It was a surprise to everyone that Honduras made it to the World Cup – including Hondurans – so what can they do once they’re there?
Los Catrachos are perhaps one of the unlikeliest sides to appear in this year’s World Cup, even to their loyal fan base. No player deserves more credit for their appearance than Jonathan Bornstein, the USA defender whose 94th-minute equaliser crushed Costa Rican dreams and allowed the Hondurans to squeak through the final CONCACAF automatic spot purely on goal difference. Despite a couple of recognisable Premier League figures in Wilson Palacios and Maynor Figueroa, it’s difficult to see how Honduras can squeak through.
One of the key men in Honduras’ qualification, striker Carlos Costly, was recently ruled out due to injury, causing coach Reinaldo Rueda to glumly state, “We do not believe we have the firepower†without him. A Costly absence? Not according to Inter forward David Suazo who recently told the Austrian Press Agency, “It would be a lie to say that we can’t beat Spain.” Call us liars David, but it’s not going to happen. For their first two fixtures against Chile and Spain, Honduran heart and belief is unlikely to be enough to overcome the group’s favourites.
Star Player: Wilson Palacios
After a storming season with Tottenham Hotspur culminated in a historic Champions League berth, Honduran hopes and dreams will be embodied in the 25-year-old’s ability to transfer his recent club form for country in South Africa. Palacios is far and away the top performer for Honduras and neutrals will be hoping to see big performances from the Spurs regular a year after a personal tragedy which he admitted almost made him turn his back on the game.
Just over a year ago his kidnapped teenage brother Edwin’s body was found dead despite his family paying a £125,000 ransom to the kidnappers. A year later he has confounded early critics’ expectations for his club side and no one could begrudge him if he manages the same for his country.
Manager: Reinaldo Rueda
Colombian Rueda is one of the few managers in football to have never played professionally. In fact he was once a University Professor with a Masters Degree in Physical Education. He rose through the ranks of the Colombian U-17, U-20, U-21, U-23 and Senior side before becoming the Honduran coach in 2007, having failed to reach the World Cup with Colombia. All things considered, Rueda has been a huge and unlikely success.
Prediction: Group stage exit
After losing to El Salvador in a 1970 World Cup qualifying tie, Honduras embarked on a six-day war with their neighbours. Let’s hope the Honduras military hasn’t the will for a three-pronged attack as it’s very, very likely the Central Americans may be returning home this time with nary a point to their names.
Odds: 1000/1
Irishness rating: 8/10
Irish charity organisation GOAL has been effecting change in Honduras since 1998’s Hurricane Mitch devastated the country. Then president Carlos Roberto Flores claimed the damage had reversed 50 years of Honduran progress and the good Irishmen and women of the charity have been working tirelessly ever since. Also, we’re awarding bonus points for GOAL’s football-related title connotations.
If they were a car they’d be…
A T-72 tank. Some strong-arm weaponry but overall likely to be totally outgunned by newer models.
