The 1-1 draw is yet another disappointment for a side also containing Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano, though Sergio Aguero was absent from the starting line-up after picking up a groin strain in training.
Though Argentina now move onto the same points as leaders Uruguay, they have played one game more and the fact that Bolivia came into this game without a point and bottom of the World Cup qualifying group, hardly appeased a restless home crowd.
Zabaleta, now a regular fixture for his national team, played the full 90 minutes, but Aguero’s injury is a cause for concern for City, particularly with a top-of-the-table clash with Newcastle to come next weekend and a crucial Champions League clash with Napoli following on a few days later.
He is almost certin to miss the trip to Colombia next week, where Argentina face their sternest challenge to date in their bid to qualify for Brazil 2014.
“The Colombians have more quality up front,” said Zabaleta. “It will be anything but an easy match for us, that’s for sure.
“There’s a long way to go, and you never know what might happen. All we can do for now is focus on the next game and see what happens. As for the rest, time will tell.”
