Honduras - Team Profile

Manager: Luis Fernando Suarez

Best finish: Group stages (1982, 2010)

World Cup record: P 9, W 0, D 3, L 6

History

Quite a debut in '82, when they drew 1-1 with hosts Spain, before picking up another point against Northern Ireland. A defeat to Yugoslavia in their final group game sent them home. Honduras had to wait until 2010 for their second appearance when they met eventual winners Spain again, losing 2-0 – the only occasion, in six World Cup games, they've conceded more than a single goal. They lost to Chile and drew with Switzerland before bowing out.

Whiteboard

Honduras parted company with Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda, now manager of Ecuador, after the 2010 World Cup, and are now led by another Colombian, Luis Fernando Suarez, who brought Ecuador to the second round of the 2006 World Cup – and the two coaches will meet on June 20th in their second group game. A hoot. Well organised, compact and technically gifted – in other words: we have no clue.

All Star - Jerry Bengtson

No offence to Celtic devotees, who would have their left-back and 2011 Scottish Premier League Player of the Year Emilio Izaguirre as the man to watch, nor indeed the Stoke faithful who might opt for their (occasional) player Wilson Palacios, one of six British-based Honduras men, but it's hard to ignore New England Revolution striker Jerry Bengtson, not least because he's very tall and scores goals (nine in qualifying).

County Colours – Laois

It’s not the winning, it’s the taking part that counts.

Pundit's Corner – Derek Mooney: "BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE."

Prospects

The bookies have them as the rank World Cup outsiders, with odds around 3,000 to 1. But with a manager by the name of Luis Suarez, anything is possible. He used 54 players en route to the finals, so the fella seems to be in more than two minds. At least it will keep Group E opponents Switzerland, France and Ecuador guessing.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: 1 Luis Lopez (Real Espana), 18 Noel Valladares (Olimpia), 22 Donis Escober (Olimpia).

Defenders: 2 Osman Chavez (Qingdao Janoon, Chn), 3 Maynor Figueroa (Hull, Eng), 4 Juan Pablo Montes (Motagua), 5 Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes. USA), 6 Juan Carlos Garcia (Wigan, Eng), 21 Brayan Beckeles (Olimpia).

Midfielders: 7 Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic, Sco), 8 Wilson Palacios (Stoke, Eng), 10 Mario Martinez (Real Espana), 12 Edder Delgado (Real Espana), 14 Oscar Garcia (Houston Dynamo, USA), 15 Roger Espinoza (Wigan, Eng), 17 Andy Najar (Anderlecht/Bel), 19 Luis Garrido (Olimpia), 20 Jorge Claros (Motagua), 23 Marvin Chavez (Colorado Rapids/USA).

Forwards: 9 Jerry Palacios (Alajuelense/Cri),11 Jerry Bengtson (New England Revolution/USA), 13 Carlo Costly (Real Espana), 16 Rony Martinez (Real Sociedad/Esp).

TEAM LINE-UPS

HONDURAS (v France): 18 Noel Valladares; 21 Brayan Beckeles, 5 Victor Bernardez (2 Osman Chavez, half-time), 3 Maynor Figueroa, 7 Emilio Izaguirre; 17 Andy Naja, 19 Luis Garrido (yc), 8 Wilson Palacios (rc), 15 Roger Espinoza; 11 Jerry Bengtson (14 Oscar Garcia, half-time), 13 Carlo Costly.

HONDURAS (v Ecuador): 18 Noel Valladares; 21 Brayan Beckeles, 5 Victor Bernardez (yc), 3 Maynor Figueroa, 7 Emilio Izaguirre (6 Juan Carlos Garcia, half-time); 14 Oscar Garcia (23 Marvin Chavez, ), 19 Luis Garrido (10 Mario Martinez, 71 mins), 20 Jorge Claros, 15 Roger Espinoza; 11 Jerry Bengtson (yc), 13 Carlo Costly.

HONDURAS (v Switzerland): 18 Noel Valladares; 21 Brayan Beckeles, 5 Victor Bernardez, 3 Maynor Figueroa, 6 Juan Carlos Garcia; 14 Oscar Garcia (17 Andy Najar, 77 mins), 20 Jorge Claros, 8 Wilson Palacios, 15 Roger Espinoza (23 Marvin Chavez, 15 mins); 11 Jerry Bengtson, 13 Carlo Costly (9 Jerry Palacios (yc), 40 mins).