Can you imagine what level of craze is required for two countries engage in to real war over a dispute in world cup football qualifying match? Yes, it happened and one of the countries involved in that was Honduras. A real war had broken out between Honduras & El Salvador.
Honduras qualification for the 2014 world cup is another evidence of the significant improvement of the football of the nation in recent time. The last decade has been considered a golden era for the national team, evidenced by their continued improvement and qualification to South Africa and now Brazil. Honduras surprised many in one of their qualification matches for 2014 beating strong Mexico at Aztec Stadium 2-1. They also beat USA. While rank outsiders even in a somewhat balanced Group E Los Catrachos may be termed as dark horse of the group.
The Honduras national football team, nicknamed Los Catrachos, La Bicolor or La H, is controlled by the Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de Honduras (FENAFUTH). They are a rising team in CONCACAF, an ascent that started with their third place finish in the 2001 Copa América, where they were a late invitee, due to a withdrawal by Argentina one day prior to kickoff. To date, the team has qualified three times for the finals of the FIFA world cup in 1982, 2010 and 2014.
How Honduras Qualified?
Honduras' world cup journey began with an automatic bye to the third round of the qualification because of their third place position in the FIFA world ranking. The Honduras team qualified for the final round by finishing first in their third-round group, which included Panama, Canada, and Cuba. The first game began with an upsetting loss against Panama at home. Honduras managed to keep composure despite their tie in the second game in Canada. They went ahead to win both of their matches against Cuba and left with a tie from Panama. In their last match, Honduras recorded an impressive 8–1 win over Canada, allowing them to finish first in their group ahead of Panama.
Honduras disputed the fourth and final round of CONCACAF qualification for the 2014 world cup in Brazil. The final round, sometimes referred as the hexagonal, is composed of six teams in which each team faces every opponent in a home-and-away format. In their first two games, Honduras faced regional giants USA and Mexico at home. Honduras successfully defeated USA 2 to 1 in their opening hexagonal match. Following the USA match, Honduras hosted Mexico only to comeback from a 0-2 trail to a 2-2 draw. Los Catrachos would then travel to Panama losing to the host team 2-0. Honduras' luck playing away would worsen after losing to hosts Costa Rica and United States 1-0. Following the 2-0 Jamaica win and the 1-0 USA loss, Honduras traveled to Mexico City to face a battered Mexico. Despite the opposition and the atmosphere, Honduras came back from a 1-0 trail to a stunning 1-2 win in Azteca. This would translate into the expulsion of Jose "Chepo" de la Torre as head coach of Mexico. La Bicolor returned to Tegucigalpa only to draw 2-2 due to a last minute goal from Chen. In the final two games Honduras defeated their Central American rivals, Costa Rica 1-0 and qualified by means of a tie at Kingston against Jamaica.
Honduras coach Luis Fernando Suarez has announced his 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA world cup Brazil.
Suarez has included six British-based players in his list with Hull defender Maynor Figueroa, Stoke midfielder Wilson Palacios, Wigan duo Roger Espinoza and Juan Carlos Garcia, plus Celtic defender Emilio Izaguirre and Rangers midfielder Arnold Peralta all selected.
Suarez said: "I ask the ones who have not been called up to understand. A lot of players were part of this process, but only 23 can be called. I cannot keep everybody satisfied."
Twenty-year-old Luis Lopez, meanwhile, pipped a number of prospective rivals to earn himself one of the three goalkeeping berths in the squad thanks to his good form for Real Espana this season.
"This (domestic) league has had good keepers such as Yul Arzu, John Bodden, Jose Mendoza....Luis has enormous potential and soon will replace Noel Valladares," added Suarez at a press conference in Tegucigalpa.
Honduras squad
Goalkeepers: Noel Valladares, Donis Escober (both Olimpia), Luis Lopez (Real Espana)
Defenders: Brayan Beckeles (Olimpia), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic/Scotland), Juan Carlos Garcia (Wigan/England), Maynor Figueroa (Hull City/England), Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes/USA), Osman Chavez (Qingdao Janoon/China PR), Juan Pablo Montes (Motagua)
Midfielders: Arnold Peralta (Rangers/Scotland), Luis Garrido (Olimpia), Roger Espinoza (Wigan/England), Jorge Claros (Motagua), Wilson Palacios (Stoke/England), Oscar Garcia (Houston Dynamo/USA), Andy Najar (Anderlecht/Belgium), Mario Martinez (Real Espana), Marvin Chavez (Colorado Rapids/USA)
Forwards: Jerry Bengtson (New England Revolution/USA), Jerry Palacios (Alajuelense/Costa Rica), Carlo Costly (Real Espana), Rony Martinez (Real Sociedad/Spain)
Coach Luis Fernando Suarez
First came to prominence as coach of Ecuador team but lost to England in the group of 16 matches in 2006. Suarez is best known for his motivational skills. The Colombian favors attacking style although Honduras can be a physical side defensively. In a strange twist of fate he took over from Reinardo Reude who now coaches Suarez former team and group E rival Ecuador.
Prediction
Though Honduras only qualified on the last day of the group stage, the mood in the country is optimistic. With key forwards Carlo Costly and Jerry Bengstson in good form, and FIFA world cup experience in all position, hopes are high that the team can reach the round of 16.
The final draw has left several players “dreaming of four games”. The group is very evenly balanced and any four can advance. Honduras however has not won any world cup match yet. Football lovers have to wait and see whether they can do it in their third world cup after 1982 & 2010.
BDST: 1028 HRS, JUN 07, 2014
