The Great Tournament is less than a week away, we continue the breakdowns of Group H with the Central American nation of Honduras
OFFICIAL NAME: Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de Honduras
NICKNAME: Los Catrachos
FIFA CONFEDERATION: CONCACAF (Caribbean, Central & North America)
FIFA CODE: HON
HOW THEY QUALIFIED: 3rd place in CONCACAF Hexagonal Final Stage
WORLD CUP APPEARANCES (INCLUDING 2010): 2
BEST WC FINISH: Eliminated Group Stage, Spain 1982
WORLD CUP RECORD (MP: Wins - Draws - Losses): 3: 0W - 2D - 1L
HEAD COACH: Reinaldo Rueda
MOST CAPPED PLAYER (# of caps): Amado Guevara (134)
ALL-TIME GOAL SCORING LEADER (# of goals): Carlos Pavón (57)
BRIEF FOOTBALLING HISTORY:
Honduras are two-time CONCACAF champions, winning continental titles in 1993 and 1995. Los Catrachos stunned the football world when they finished 3rd in the 2001 Copa América. That Honduran side stunned Brazil 2-0 in the quarterfinals and beat Uruguay to claim 3rd place and claim its greatest footballing achievement to date along with qualifying for 1982 World Cup in Spain.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Honduras' player to watch is a defensive midfielder who will have the task of marking some of the best creative talent in the tournament. He is Hendry Thomas.
(Mexsport)
The 25-year old Wigan Athletic player will have the unenviable job of neutralizing the excellent attacking midfielders that are in this group. Thomas is half of Honduras' Wigan Athletic connection, the other is defender Maynor Figueroa. Thomas is used to playing a physical style as a member of an English Premiership side. Thomas will have to be on top form for Honduras to advance out of this group.
OUTLOOK:
Honduras under Reinaldo Rueda is a scrappy side that scratches and claws its way to victories & results. Los Catrachos don't have the attacking depth to hang with Spain and Chile so they will have to be extra tight defensively. Veteran strikers David Suazo and Carlos Pavon must finish their goal scoring opportunities if Honduras hope to advance out of the group.
FINAL 23-MAN WC ROSTER:
Goalkeepers: Ricardo Canales (Motagua), Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Donis Escober (Olimpia)
Defenders: Victor Bernardez (Anderlecht/Belgium), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan/England), Boniek Garcia (Olimpia), Sergio Mendoza (Motagua), Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua), Johnny Palacios (Olimpia), Mauricio Sabillon (Hangzhou Luchen/China), Osman Chavez (Platense)
Midfielders: Edgar Alvarez (Bari/Italy), Julio Cesar de Leon (Torino/Italy), Amado Guevara (Motagua), Ramon Nunez (Olimpia), Wilson Palacios (Tottenham/England), Hendry Thomas (Wigan/England), Danilo Turcios (Olimpia)
Forwards: David Suazo (Genoa/Italy), Georgie Welcome (Motagua), Carlos Pavon (Real Espana), Walter Martinez (Marathon), Roger Espinoza (Kansas City Wizards/USA)
WC GROUP SCHEDULE:
June 16 vs. Chile
June 21 vs. Spain
June 25 vs. Switzerland
Group H breakdowns continue with Spain.