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FIFA World Cup 2010: Spain vs Honduras Match Preview

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FIFA World Cup 2010: Spain vs Honduras Match Preview

After a shocking first game loss to minnows Switzerland, Spain are a wounded tiger and take on African minnows Honduras tonight at Ellis Park looking to make amends. Spain can afford no more hiccups; after Chile already beating Switzerland, it would simply be a disaster if they come away with anything less than a win for tonight’s game.

The game at Ellis Park tonight coincides with the 46th anniversary of Spain’s first world title when they won the European championship. Domination in the world of football and a World Cup title has so far eluded La Furia Roja, but having come into the competition as pre-tournament favourites, they will not be taking things lightly tonight, and with an embarrassing riches of superstars they don’t even have many doubters.

Spain has dreamt of winning the World Cup, and in many people’s opinion, they may never get a better chance than this year, and with their destiny still in their hands, they won’t be willing to squander the opportunity at hand. They can still reign supreme, but before that, they have to beat a Honduras side that is going into the game with nothing to lose. There is nothing more dangerous than a team in football that has nothing to lose, so Spain had better beware.

Many of Spain’s players think that after their shock loss to the Swiss, the criticism is uncalled for, as any team can have a bad day at work. It’s certainly hard to disagree with them, especially when the margin was only one goal and for distraction, Casillas had his exotic girlfriend Sara Carbonero (voted the sexiest sports journalist in the world) standing right behind his net reporting for Spanish television. The keeper should have been forgiven for his howler.

In a tournament where Monday’s marvels become Friday’s flops, Honduras are not carrying any burden on their shoulders, and have already surpassed expectations by qualifying for the finals after a gap of 24 years. But the limitations of an injury-stricken squad were brutally exposed against Chile. History is on their side, however, as they have every chance of upsetting the odds: in their opening game in the 1982 World Cup, they caused an upset of mammoth proportions when they held Spain to a 1-1 draw and we have already seen two matches ending in draws: England-Algeria and Italy-New Zealand. Therefore, we shouldn’t count the Hondurans out, at least not just yet.

Honduras are still seeking their first victory in the World Cup final after drawing two of their 4 games and losing the other two. They are winless in the last 6 games and have failed to score in 5.

Spain, on the other hand, came into this tournament as red hot favourites and had won 45 of their previous 48 games prior to the loss to Switzerland, and their talismanic midfielders Xavi and Iniesta were the only two players in the first round of matches to attempt over a 100 passes.

Spanish coach Vicente Del Bosque is set to partner David Villa with Fernando Torres upfront tonight, and Barca’s holding midfielder Sergio Busquets is set to make way for the Liverpool ace while Sergio Ramos is expected to shake off a rib injury he suffered during the first match. However, Andres Iniesta is a doubt after being substituted in the first match due to a niggling injury.

Honduras will still be without their lethal marksman David Suazo, as the Inter Milan forward is still suffering from the knee injury he brought to the World Cup, while Wilson Palacios, the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, is set the anchor the midfield despite being one yellow away from suspension.

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