体坛英语新闻：Bolivia prepares for Brazil, Chile friendlies with interim coach

LA PAZ, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Bolivia is preparing for upcoming soccer friendlies against Brazil's Olympic squad and Chile's national lineup with interim coach Mauricio Soria.

Soria told reporters Tuesday in the eastern city of Santa Cruz that the team was in good spirits and would explore new game strategies to use against the strong rivals.

Training began Monday with the 27-man lineup Soria put together, excluding Carlos Saucedo and Martin Spedberg, who joined up Tuesday.

This is Soria's first time as national team coach, after the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) designated him as interim coach for the two games to be played Friday against Brazil, and Tuesday against Chile.

The matches aim to keep the Bolivian squad in shape for the upcoming 2015 Copa America championship in Chile, the 2016 Centennial Copa America in the United States, and qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

While football officials decide on a definitive coach for the national team for the 2014-2018 period, the coach of football club Deportivo Blooming, himself a candidate, was asked to take over.

Friday's game against Brazil will take place at Cuiaba's Pantanal Stadium at 9 p.m. Bolivian time (0100 GMT Saturday), and Tuesday's match against Chile will be at Coquimbo's Francisco Sanchez Rumoroso Stadium at 7 p.m. Bolivian time (2300 GMT).

Bolivia has already played, and lost, four friendlies this year, all under the supervision of former coach Xabier Azkargorta: Spain (2-0), Greece (2-1), Ecuador (4-0) and Mexico (1-0).

The losses led Bolivia to fall 23 spots to No. 94 in the September world ranking of teams compiled by soccer world body FIFA.