RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti said his team would be playing to win in its final World Cup qualifier against Bolivia on Tuesday, despite the challenge of playing at more than 4,000 meters above sea level.
Brazil is second in the South American qualifying standings and already guaranteed a berth in football's showpiece tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico next year. Bolivia, eighth in the 10-team group, must win to have any chance of securing a playoff spot.
Ancelotti said "every game counts" as his team steps up its World Cup preparations.
"A national team plays roughly 10 matches per year so we can't allow ourselves to think that some games are more important than others," the Italian said. "Every game matters. Tomorrow's match is very important, and the next game after that is too."
Brazil beat Chile 3-0 at Rio's Maracana Stadium while Bolivia fell 3-0 to Colombia in Barranquilla in the penultimate round of qualifiers last Thursday.
Ancelotti admitted Brazil would adopt a different game plan in the rarefied air of the Municipal Stadium in El Alto, on a plateau overlooking the capital, La Paz.
"We're going to change not only the strategy but also some players," he said. "We have to play differently to the way we did against Chile, which was a very intense and high-pressure game. That can't be done at altitude."
Ancelotti, who has never previously been to Bolivia, said he was relying on others to provide advice on how to approach the match.
"It may be new to me, but Brazil has played many games there, and we have many people with that experience, including players, doctors and physiotherapists," he said. "I have to trust people who have more information than I do." ■
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