2010 World Cup Preview: Honduras

Honduras enters the World Cup Finals as a true feel-good story, qualifying for the second time in its history – its first was in 1982 - and rallying a country in political turmoil.

“Los Catrachos” booked their ticket to South Africa in dramatic fashion and with a little help. On the final day of qualifying, an extra-time goal by the United States in a qualifier against Costa Rica pushed Honduras past Costa Rica in the standings on goal differential and secured it the third and final automatic berth from CONCACAF.

SCHEDULE

Chile: June 16

Spain: June 21

Switzerland: June 25

Although it’s far from a “Group of Death,” surviving and advancing through Group H will be a very steep challenge for Honduras.

The group has the distinction of being the last to hit the pitch – playing a week after the tournament’s opening day – and all sides might be a little restless when they finally open play. Honduras begins with Chile - second-place finishers during qualifying in the extremely competitive CONMEBOL region - in a game it simply cannot lose if it hopes to make it to the round of 16.

Euro 2008 champion and FIFA no. 2, Spain, looms in the second match, with the two sides meeting at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg. If the confrontation with the talented Spanish wasn’t enough to worry the Hondurans, the altitude might be. The stadium rests at an eye-popping altitude of 5,732 feet above sea level.

Four days later, Honduras will meet Switzerland in a fixture it will probably have to win in order to advance past the group stage. That is, if it hasn’t already been mathematically eliminated. Regardless, Honduras should have an advantage when it comes to travel and rest. Los Catrachos will travel about 400km from Johannesburg to Bloemfontein for the fixture, while the Swiss will have to travel nearly 700km from Port Elizabeth - the site of its previous match with Chile.

KEY PLAYERS

Honduras is led by a group of players enjoying success in Europe’s top leagues and a pair of battle-tested national team veterans.

Central midfielder Wilson Palacios headlines the European-based players, as an athletic staple of the English Premier League’s Tottenham Hotspur. The 25-year old has 69 caps with Honduras and brings a solid pedigree to the midfield – just don’t look for him to blister the back of the net (only 4 goals in his 69 national team caps). Striker David Suazo (Genoa), midfielders Julio Cesar de Leon (Torino) and Hendry Thomas (Wigan Athletic) and defender Maynor Figueroa (Wigan Athletic) also bring with them the experience of playing in leagues of the highest level.

Long-time regulars of the national team, forward Carlos Pavon and midfielder Amada Guevara, will have their careers punctuated by this World Cup trip. Pavon, 36, is Honduras’ all-time leading goal scorer with 57 goals in 98 caps and paced CONCACAF qualifying with seven goals. Guevara, 33, has the most caps (133) in Honduras national team history and is also the team captain. Both might be familiar to US fans while playing in Major League Soccer. Guevara was the 2004 MLS MVP while playing with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and Pavon suited up for the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

The mixture of young and old, as well as the nothing-to-lose attitude that often comes with being an underdog may very well prove to be an asset this June.

Pavon, Suazo and Carlo Costly (5 goals in qualifying) should make Honduras solid up front, as the team averaged nearly two goals a match during qualifying.

Palacios will be coming off the most important club matches of his career, as he has helped put Tottenham in position to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.

Of course, the weight of expectations from a country starving for international success may prove crippling.

Goalkeeper Noel Valladares has come under fire in the last few months for his performance with the national team as well as Honduran National League side Olimpia, with media and ex-players calling for his dismissal from the starting 11. If a change is made, Montagua’s Ricardo Canales seems to be the most likely replacement.

Rumors have also recently surfaced that the team’s coach, Rueda Reinaldo, might resign as the Cup approaches because of unpaid bonuses in excess of $1-million due to the staff and players for qualifying.

IT WOULD BE A GREAT WORLD CUP IF…

Cinderellas seem to spring up at every World Cup and if Honduras made it through to the round of 16, it would certainly qualify as one. Honduras allowed just 11 goals in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying - fewer than regional powerhouses United States and Mexico - and will need a similar defensive stand, as well as some slip-ups by the favorites, to have a chance at completing the lofty feat.

IT WOULD BE A DISASTER IF…

With a loss to Spain highly likely, in-form Chile and Switzerland sides could turn Honduras’ African adventure into a nightmare. If both of those nations are still rolling along – each excelled in qualifying - Honduras could conceivably head back home without a point.

MY PREDICTION

With a growing roster of “name players,” Honduras has quickly become a force to be reckoned with in CONCACAF. However, that success hasn’t translated into round-of-16 play for what would be regarded as the region’s smaller countries in recent World Cups. Costa Rica (twice), Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica all failed to advance past the group stage in the last three World Cups.

History is also not on its side, as Honduras failed to win a game at the 1982 World Cup.

Grabbing three points with an upset win is probably the ceiling, while snatching one point with a draw against Chile or Switzerland is the most realistic outcome.