World Cup Group H preview: Honduras v Chile
Honduras and Chile meet in this Group H encounter for the first time in a competitive match, and with Spain and Switzerland favourites to qualify into the next round, it is a great opportunity for one of these nations to register three points.
Honduras are participating in only their second World Cup, the first was in 1982, but they face a difficult task against a confident Chilean side who finished just a point behind Brazil during qualification.
Wilson Palacios, Hendry Thomas and Maynor Figueroa play their football in the Premier League, so playing on a stage such as the World Cup should not faze the Hondurans, whose squad also includes key players such as set-piece dangerman Julio César de León, and striker David Suazo. Georgie Welcome is also there to try and provide the goals.
There are doubts as to the fitness of both Palacios and Suazo, but both have declared they are ready to play today. Suazo, on loan at Benfica and Genoa during his time at Inter Milan, wants to push himself to take part. “My recovery is coming along well. We are hoping that I will be able to respond positively as regards my being available to play and to how much of a role I can play.
"My heart tells me that I would like to play in all the matches, to stretch myself to the limit, but that depends on other factors,” said the 30-year-old.
Palacios has been a key player for Tottenham, helping them secure fourth spot in the Premier League last season. The ankle biter in midfield suffered an injury in the warm-up match defeat to Romania, but he should be fit to play. “I supposedly had a pulled abductor but I feel a lot better. Thank God it's nothing serious,” said Palacios.
Opponents Chile are the team that should not be underestimated in this group. They have a wealth of attacking talent. Rodrigo Tello of Beșiktaș, Sporting Lisbon’s Matías Fernández and Udinese’s Alexis Sánchez boast the qualities of a strong attack.
Coming within a point of the most successful team in World Cup history, Brazil, is impressive. However, Chile must be careful of not leaking too many goals. They conceded 22 in qualifying, which was the worst out of the South American teams to get to the finals. The defence will need to be fully focused if they want to keep a clean sheet.
Led by former Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa, who is keen to give his team all the credit, Chile will be playing football that will be pleasing on the eye and delight the crowd. “This team got to South Africa on its own. I did not take them there, rather I am going there with them,” said Bielsa.
The 3-3-1-3 formation that Bielsa has adopted allows his players to move freely around the pitch in attacking positions and keep a stranglehold of the possession. Plenty of goals could be on the cards.
Chile have some injury doubts. Another Suazo, Humberto, is struggling. Esteban Paredes is expected to take his place if he doesn’t make it. Midfielder Rodrigo Millar is also an injury doubt.
Tags: