BELO HORIZONTE, June 19 (Xinhua) -- China-based striker Marcelo Martins insisted on Wednesday that Bolivia can still advance to the knockout stage of the Copa America in Brazil despite having lost their first two group matches.
An opening 3-0 loss to Brazil and a 3-1 defeat to Peru have left La Verde needing to win their last Group A match against Venezuela to have any chance of progressing.
"It's not over for us at all," Martins told reporters. "We have an opportunity and we'll be doing our best to win [on Saturday]."
The top two teams from each of the three Copa America groups will earn a berth in the quarterfinals while the two best third-placed sides will also advance.
Martins, who plays for Shijiazhuang Ever Bright, in China League One, said he is looking forward to the clash with Venezuela at Belo Horizonte's Mineirao stadium, where he enjoyed a successful spell with Cruzeiro in 2014 and 2015.
"Hopefully they (Cruzeiro supporters) will be supporting the Bolivia team," the 32-year-old former Wigan Athletic forward said. "That could give us a big boost in this game because it is imperative that we get three points."
