Bolivia coach Nelson Acosta, stung by Sunday's 5-0 defeat to Uruguay in their opening World Cup qualifier, complained on Tuesday that the domestic game was played at a snail's pace.

"The dynamics are different here," said the Uruguayan-born coach who also has Chilean nationality.

"The players fall to the ground, pass the ball sideways, they don't play quickly and their opponents sit back waiting," he told reporters.

"The competition in Bolivia is weak and the players aren't to blame because nothing is demanded of them. If you're happy with that, no problem, but it doesn't give us any chance of competing abroad."

Bolivia, who depend heavily on the high altitude of La Paz at 3,600 metres above sea level, are at home to Colombia on Wednesday.

Acosta, who took over in July, described his team's performance on Sunday as naive and promised to make changes.

"We need to run a lot," he added. "Only then will we have the altitude as an ally."



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