Recent Injury Alters Honduras' 2010 World Cup Roster

A last-minute injury resulted in a slight change but there were otherwise few surprises in the 23-man preliminary roster announced by Honduras head coach Reinaldo Rueda late Monday.

Striker Carlo Costly fractured his right foot last Thursday while playing for Romanian side SC Valsui and the six-week recovery time frame ruled him out for South Africa.

In the search for his replacement, Rueda opted for the slightly more experienced Georgie Welcome over the top two scorers in the Honduran National League, Jerry Bengtson (13 goals) and Roger Rojas (10 goals). The 23-year-old Bengtson of Vida has just one cap with the national team, while 19-year-old Rojas of Olimpia has yet to see action with the senior squad. The 25-year-old Welcome tallied seven goals for Motagua this past season and has 11 caps under his belt.

Costly was paired with Honduras’ all-time leading scorer Carlos Pavon for much of qualifying and scored five goals during the run to secure Honduras’ World Cup berth.

Rather than choose a 30-man preliminary roster and whittle it down to 23 players by the start of the World Cup like most teams do, Rueda chose to select all 23 players he plans to take with him to South Africa. Aside from the Costly injury, the roster shakes out as expected.

GOALKEEPERS

Selections: Ricardo Canales (Motagua), Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Donis Escober (Olimpia)

Outlook: Valladares was the starting netminder throughout qualifying but has come under pressure lately from the media and ex-players due to some poor performances. Canales is believed to have the inside track at cracking the starting 11 if Valladares is benched.

DEFENDERS

Selections: Victor Bernardez (Anderlecht/Belgium), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan/England), Oscar Boniek Garcia (Olimpia), Sergio Mendoza (Motagua), Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua), Johnny Palacios (Olimpia), Mauricio Sabillon (Hangzhou Luchen/China), Osman Chavez (Platense)

Outlook: Ranging in age from 25-28, Figueroa, Mendoza, Garcia and Bernardez all have over 40 caps with the national team. Honduras will hope that the familiarity of playing with one another will come in handy against the attacking abilities of its Group H foes, which most notably features Spain.

MIDFIELDERS

Selections: Edgar Alvarez (Bari/Italy), Julio Cesar de Leon (Torino/Italy), Roger Espinoza (Kansas City Wizards/United States), Amado Guevara (Motagua), Ramon Nunez (Olimpia), Wilson Palacios (Tottenham/England), Hendry Thomas (Wigan/England), Danilo Turcios (Olimpia)

Outlook: Captain and all-time cap leader Guevara (133 caps) teams with Palacios to anchor the midfield, which boasts a strong amount of European experience. A knee injury this past Saturday has Turcios (82 caps) banged up but Rueda is confident he’ll be ready for the Cup.

FORWARDS

Selections: David Suazo (Genoa/Italy), Georgie Welcome (Motagua), Carlos Pavon (Real Espana), Walter Martinez (Marathon)

Outlook: After the announcement of the squad, Rueda expressed some concern over Pavon and Suazo’s lack of recent playing time but the pair has shined for Honduras before. Pavon is the national team’s all-time leading scorer with 57 goals in 98 caps and Suazo has netted 16 goals in 50 games. As the two younger players up front, Martinez and Welcome will be looked upon to change the pace. When Welcome sees the pitch, his play will be under the microscope, as Rueda opted to select him over the previously mentioned Bengtson and Rojas.

RESERVES

Selections: Kevin Hernandez (Real Espana), Carlo Costly (SC Valsui/Romania), Mariano Acevedo (Marathon), Jerry Palacios (Hangzhou Nabel Greentown/China), Johnny Leveron (Motagua), Erick Norales (Marathon), Melvin Valladares (Real Espana)

Outlook: At this juncture, the reserves will only be called into action in case of injury. With Costly out for six weeks, his selection is either recognition of his past play or simply wishful thinking.

Click here for more on Honduras’ chances at this year’s World Cup.