Hexagonal preview: Honduras

Honduras

Like its border nation El Salvador, Honduras is a long shot to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Potentially, a fourth-place finish is obtainable especially with a favorable match schedule. Honduras has not qualified for the World Cup since 1982.

Match Schedule

Feb 11: Honduras at Costa Rica
Mar 28: Honduras at Trinidad & Tobago
Apr 1: Mexico at Honduras
Jun 6: Honduras at USA
Jun 10: El Salvador at Honduras
Aug 12: Costa Rica at Honduras
Sept 5: Trinidad & Tobago at Honduras
Sept 9: Honduras at Mexico
Oct 10: USA at Honduras
Oct 14: Honduras at El Salvador

With three of the four on the road and the lone home match in this stretch against Mexico, Honduras can still realistically take 3 to 5 points from these matches. Three home dates follow against teams not named Mexico or the USA which certainly sets up the possibility of Honduras taking all 9 points from the contests.

Meet the Members of the Team

Colombian manager Reynaldo Rueda oversees the national team. He signed on in 2006. Several European-based players make up the core of his squad along with captain and all-time cap leader Amado Guevara.

Amado Guevara: While the captain’s best years are behind him, the Toronto FC midfielder is still capable of taking over a match. His has 115 caps for his country.

David Suazo: The 29-year-old Benfica striker on is on a season-long loan from Inter Milan. He scored three goals this summer in qualifying action against Puerto Rico. Suazo’s offensive production is vital to Honduras’ World Cup qualification. He has not seen much action for his Portuguese club. Is his international play going to suffer because of this?

Wilson Palacios: The Wigan Athletic midfielder has been one of the club’s core players since his arrival in January of 2008. Internationally, he has already been capped over 50 times. If Honduras is going to advance out of the Hexagonal, Palacios will need to factor in several of the matches.

Ramón Núñez: The former MLS player who was waived by Chivas USA at the end of the 2007 season returned to Honduras to play for CD Olimpia in 2008. The midfielder scored three impressive goals in the nation’s third-round qualifying action. His game winners against Canada and Jamaica proved to be the difference for Honduras.

Key Match

Honduras at El Salvador (October 14, 2009): If Honduras has double-digit points by this juncture, winning this match could send Honduras at least through to the intercontinental playoff where the fifth-place team from South American would be waiting.

Predictions

Best Case Scenario: If everything (and I mean everything) falls correctly, 3rd place and a spot in the 2010 World Cup.

Worst Case Scenario: Sixth place and the shame that accompanies last place as the nation deals with rival El Salvador’s higher finish in the Hexagonal.

--Sean Grybos