World Cup Preview - Group H - Honduras
Nickname: “Los Catrachos”FIFA ranking: 38th
Coach: Colombian Reinaldo Rueda
Game Schedule:
June 16 – Honduras vs. Chile (Nelspruit, 7:30 a.m. EST, ESPN)
June 21 – Honduras vs. Spain (Jo'burg, 2:30 p.m., ESPN)
June 25 – Honduras vs. Switzerland (Bloemfontein, 2:30 p.m., ESPN2)
Prospects: Honduras earned an automatic spot at SA 2010 at the expense of Costa Rica on the last day of qualifying when the US scored a late equalizer. It's their second trip to the finals and perhaps their best chance ever to shine. The Hondurans boast a decent backline, which gave up the lowest number of goals in CONCACAF qualifying. Add to this a midfield anchored by Spurs' Wilson Palacios and a speedy attack, and The Catrachos can start to dream.
Key Player: Genoa striker David Suazo has plied his trade in Europe for more than a decade.
Youngster to watch: 23 year old KC Wizards midfielder Roger Espinoza has just broken into the side.
Who Will Get the Goals: Even at the ripe old age of 36, Carlos Pavon is a potent threat.
Who Will Get the Cards: Wigan's Maynor Figueroa has learned all the wrong lessons from life in the Premiership.
Funniest Name: Georgie Welcome - sounds like a Vegas singer.
Prediction: The opening match with Chile is the key; I see them just edged out by the South Americans for second.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 8:59 PM
3 Comments:
I would love to see Honduras advance to the knockout stage, but in all honesty they will probably exit the tournament early. I look forward to watching Honduras in their opening match. They will be fun to watch and I am sure they will be competitive. In my opinion David Suazo will be the key player as he is their main attacking threat. He has been scoring goals in Serie A the past ten years. I have to pick Wilson Palacios to get the cards. He has a take no prisoners attitude. There is little to choose between Honduras, Chile, and Switzerland. As much as I would love to see Honduras advance, I have a sneaky suspicion that the Swiss will just manage to finish second in Group H.
I'm plumping for Chile, as I've had to suffer through too many dodgy US away games in Honduras over the years. I always want the US to make the strongest showing at the WC.
I'm hoping and think they will advance.
I want them to because of all the CA teams that roll through RFK, the Hondurans bring along the most pleasant and friendly fan base. Secondly, I want them to be a bit of a surprise package to show the rest of the world what it is that makes the US periodically struggle in our qualifying. If they get rolled over and out, that just makes the US look half-rate. Viva los Catrachos!
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