Betting odds Honduras

 Manager: Reinaldo Rueda
Captain: Amado  Guevara
FIFA Ranking: 40
World Cup Appearances: 1
Best World Cup: Round 1 – 1982

Honduras Team Profile

The Hondurans, in just their second ever World Cup, will have been pleased with their group in that it’s competitive enough that they could maybe spring a surprise with progression, while the dream fixture will be the one with the 2008 European Champions Spain.

As we’ve already mentioned, this will be just the second time Honduras will play in a World Cup after a 28 year drought without one. They are a surprise inclusion as very few fancied their chances in the North American qualifying sector, while Los Catrachos needed a huge slice of luck elsewhere to seal their progression, as a late USA goal against Costa Rica sparked frantic celebration over in Honduras. They’ll feel the Gods were looking down on them that day, and with the footballing Gods apparently on their side, they’ll head to South Africa with plenty of optimism aiming to bypass a fairly average Group H. Of course, Spain will be a tough assignment and one they look destined to fail in, but Chile and Switzerland aren’t the strongest of nation and so rightly so Honduras will fancy their chances of springing a genuine surprise in South Africa.

Nickname: Los Catrachos

Honduras Key Players

The majority of the Honduras team aren’t household names, while those of you who follow the main band of European league might recognise a few. The stand outs, though, are Amado Guevara (Captain), Wilson Palacios, David Suazo and their all-time leading scorer Carlos Pavon. The latter is 36 years of age but still manage to accumulate seven goals in nine qualifiers for his country, and while he may not have the freshest pair of legs, his experience and wisdom will be influential for the rest of the team.

Everyone should know what Wilson Palacios is all about. He’s one of the more professional players in the Premier League at his club Tottenham Hotspur. He simply sits in the centre of the field, calmly collecting the ball and distributing it all around the pitch. Palacios goes about his business in quite manner, but he’s effective at what he does and without him in the side Honduras would struggle to retain possession.

Carlos Pavon took most of the limelight with his 7 goals in 9 qualifiers, but he was amply assisted by Genoa’s David Suazo, who has been around the block with some big clubs in Europe, and he too has valuable experience and know-how which will aid Honduras well in South Africa in front of goal.

Justin Leon is another player to keep an eye out for, as his pace down the left flank will enable Honduras to puss forward more and exploit the full-back areas. He will look to bomb forward, hit the byline and deliver a telling cross in an area where either Pavon or Suazo can pounce.

Strengths

I would say undoubtedly their experienced forward duo of Carlos Pavon and David Suazo. They’ve experienced the big time at club level, while they’ve been in the Honduras team long enough to know where the through balls will go and where the crosses will land. Honduras have two smart and intelligent forwards at the forefront of their attack, two players which know how to sniff out a chance. The pair are proper goal-getters and will be valuable to Honduras over the course of the summer.

Weaknesses

Seeing as we haven’t seen too much of them, the lack of strength within the deeper reaches of the squad would be a concern, while the unfamiliarity of their defence will also spring a few doubts. Moreover, the fact they’ve scraped through qualification by the skin of teeth means they are the worst of the three North American teams in South Africa, which considering North American football isn’t the strongest, doesn’t bode at all well.

World Cup Potential: 1/5

We’re certain the Hondurans (Not an official nickname, but we’re sure it will catch on soon enough) will be a spirited bunch, and their travelling support of Honduras followers will make for a party atmosphere on the sidelines. Their two experienced forwards give them half-a-chance of perhaps nicking a few points off either Chile and Switzerland, but progression from the group would be a real surprise and an unlikely scenario. Even so, they’ll give their all and could well be a nation the neutrals pledge their vow of support to. After all, everyone loves an underdog.

Honduras World Cup Betting Odds

Honduras to win the World Cup: 1500  Bet365

Before the World Cup the odds on Honduras were 1000/1 

Official Honduras World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers

Noel Valladares (Olimpia)

Donis Escober (Olimpia)

Ricardo Canales (Motagua)

Defenders

Sergio Mendoza (Motagua)

Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua)

Mauricio Sabillon (Hangzhou Greentown/China)

Osman Chavez (Platense)

Johnny Palacios (Olimpia)

Maynor Figueroa (Wigan Athletic)

Victor Bernardez (RSC Anderlecht)

Midfielders

Danilo Turcios (Olimpia)

Hendry Thomas (Wigan Athletic)

Edgard Alvarez (AS Bari)

Roger Espinoza (Kansas City Wizards)

Amado Guevara (Motagua)

Wilson Palacios (Tottenham Hotspur)

Julia Cesar de Leon (Torino)

Oscar Boniek Garcia (Olimpia)

Strikers

Walter Martinez (Marathon)

Georgie Welcom (Motagua)

Ramon Nunez (Olimpia)

Carlos Pavon (Real Espana)

David Suazo (FC Genoa)

last update: 18 June 2010

World Cup 2010 Honduras Fixtures – Group H

World Cup 2010 Group H - Table

World Cup Fixtures and Results

Spain

Now that they have been deposed as tournament favourites, what side of Spain will the World Cup see next? They head into their second Group H fixture on the back of a surprise defeat by European combatants Switzerland in their opening fixture. The Spaniards looked comfortable enough, as well as confident, but they simply could not break down the wall that Switzerland had put up in front of goal often enough. When they did, they either found keeper Diego Benaglio in inspired form, or that the woodwork was not a Spanish supporter either. The sucker punch for the Spanish came when a long ball down the pitch was flicked on by the Swiss forward, and in the ensuing scramble in the Spanish penalty area, Gelson Fernandes poked home to put Switzerland on the path to one of the most unlikely World Cup upsets of 2010. Now Spain must show their title credentials by bouncing back to form with a convincing victory over central American side Honduras. Three points are now vital for the Spanish, and despite their loss, they will be expecting to take a firm grip on all three of them.

Spain have an enviable array of talent throughout the whole side, and there is really no question about their ability. They played very well, sticking to their passing game against the Swiss, the break through just never came. It happens sometimes, but just because it is only the second time Spain have lost in nearly 50 matches, does not mean that they have turned into a bad side overnight. It does not mean that they are not worthy contenders for winning the 2010 World Cup. Far from it, as they will still be one of the main teams to beat. Probably more so now, as throughout tournament football, one of the prevailing nations which make it to the final, usually will have to overcome a piece of adversity. Whether that is surviving a penalty shoot out, or having victory taken away in the group stages by an underdog, something usually happens in a tournament that tests the fortitude of the squad. Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has all of the right aces in his pack to go on and win the tournament from this position, so nothing had changed. Well, maybe it has. Maybe the defeat will have made Spain stronger.

They will know more than ever know that there is no room for complacency,  not matter how strong a favourite you are when starting a match. Sometimes things just go wrong, and the truly good sides, the ones that can beat the world, will bounce back and learn from their mistakes.  This is how good teams become great. The mighty Spanish beast has been wounded, but they are not down and out. They have two matches left to control their own destiny, and when have a side packed with stars like Iniesta, Villa, Xavi, Alonso, Torres and Pique, there really is not need to panic. They simply need to brush themselves off, and maybe now some pressure will have been eased off their shoulders.

Spain World Cup Betting: Argentina have moved ahead of them in World Cup odds to win the tournament, and Brazil are level on odds with them. Maybe the football world will start looking at alternatives to Spain now to lift the trophy, and that will make the Spanish journey just a little bit easier. They have a chance to bounce back now against the group’s weakest side, Honduras, in a match which many will still back Spain to come good. They need to come through this well, and run in a few goals to take confidence into a tricky last match against South American’s Chile. Worth backing them at a good winning margin of a couple of goals.

Spain World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: P1, W0, D0, L1
GF/GA: 0/1
Cards: Y0, R0
Most Shots: Xabi Alonso, 4
Top Scorer: N/A
Shots/On Goal: 24/8
Fouls Committed: 8
Total Passes: 683
Pass Completion: 77%
Last 5 Form: WWWWL

Honduras

No one has really paid the Central American side much attention at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, that is because along with the likes of New Zealand and Algeria, they were perceived to be the whipping boys of the tournament. They did not do much to change that perception of them, as they struggled to make much of an impression in their first match against Chile. Starting the group as rank outsiders mean that Honduras were there to make up the numbers, and not much was expected of them. But against Chile, they showed a strong fighting quality which never completely discounted them from the match altogether. They were the weaker side on the day, and had to cede a lot of ground and possession to Chile. They also had to ride their luck, and thank the inspired form of their goalkeeper, as the score line would have been a lot worse. Now they must face another barrage of attack, as they will come up against the likes of Iniesta and David Villa, as the Spanish players look to redeem themselves. This match may simply be about how long Honduras can hold out for. Chile cut them apart on more than one occasion, and you would expect more of the same from the powerful Spanish side.

Honduras World Cup Betting. For as long as they will have to defend against Spain, it is tough to see them coming close to even holding on to a draw. The gulf in class should be that big, and with Spain needing to perform, the chances are they will open up and put at least a couple past Honduras. Probably the only way to bet on Honduras would be to find a big plus in the Asian Handicap market which still offers some value. Then you will back them to defend for their World Cup lives.

Honduras World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: P1, W0, D0, L1
GF/GA: 0/1
Cards: Y1, R0
Most Shots: Ramon Nunez, 3
Top Scorer: N/A
Shots/On Goal: 7/2
Fouls Committed: 15
Total Passes: 348
Pass Completion: 58%
Last 5 Form: LDDLL

Spain v Honduras Betting Odds

Spain to win: 1/7 at BetFred
Draw: 8/1 at Bet365
Honduras to win: 25/1 at Victor Chandler

Asian Handicap Betting tip. It’s always a little tougher to get great value when such a heavyweight goes up against a minnow. But if you work on an average of two to three goals, and turn that into a minus for Spain, then you should be in the right zone for this one. May as well go all out on this one.
Spain -2.25 for 11/8 at Bet365
 

Spain V Honduras Odds:

World Cup Group H teams: Spain, Paraguay, Switzerland, Honduras. Here it is, the final group preview of the best value bets for the World Cup. Tournament favourites Spain were the last seeded team to be drawn from the hat, and they find themselves in an interesting group, but one which they should have no trouble at all negotiating through. The countdown to South Africa 2010 is firmly on right now, and time is running out to get your pre-tournament bets down. This guide to the groups, is designed to help you find the best returns on your World Cup Odds, when looking deeper than the main outright markets. Spain surely have the dominance over Group H, but is there some big surprises to come from one of the tournament’s fancied Dark Horses, Chile?

Group Outright: Spain 2/7 at Stan James
Yes, they are the European Champions, and yes, they have an embarrassment of riches in their squad at the moment. They had a concern over a trio of stars not being fit enough for the world cup, but Adreas Iniesta, Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas all look well on the path to recovery, and should fulfil their roles at South Africa 2010. There is little about Spain to pick holes in, as they probably have the most envious squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, from front to back. Their big match temperament had always been called into question, but they firmly put that to bed with their triumph at Euro 2008, and since then Vicente Del Bosque’s side have looked untouchable. There is something about the Spaniards going into this World Cup, which makes it hard to bet against them. It is not just the all round class and form which they displayed, nor is it the fact that they will only likely face World Cup Odds front runners Brazil in the final, but it is the air of confidence coming out of the camp. They have been unfazed by the injuries, and have just gone about their business without a lot of fuss, or headline grabbing. They are the strongest team in Group H by a country mile, and should be able to press on from their previous success, and be the first European team to win the World Cup outside of their own continent. It will also be the first time that Spain have won the World Cup, and they have the ability to do it in impressive style. Tight at the back, deadly up front, there should be no stopping them on route to the second round.

To Qualify: Switzerland 13/8 at Paddy Power
A bet which will surprise some, as they Swiss, despite topping their European qualification group ahead of Greece, have not have not had the best build up to the tournament. They suffered a shock defeat against Costa Rica, and that was their third international friendly defeat in a row. They did rally themselves on Saturday though, to give Italy the run around, dominating most of the match in a 1-1 draw. The Swiss looked quite confident of their own ability during qualification, but have maybe found the going just a little bit tougher in their build up. They are the ones charged with taking on Spain in the group opener, and when coach Ottmar Hitzfeld says that the Swiss are not simply going to roll over, the master tactician should not be ignored. He will, no doubt, have a game plan up his sleeve, but whether it will be enough to take down the Spaniards remains to be seen. The much improved draw against Italy will have given them a lot of hope, and their strength is in their team unity, and being able to close out opposition. You are not going to see an expansive game from the Swiss, and in a group with some Latin flair, their discipline in defence could be the one thing that gets them through. Therefore, while not favourites to qualify, they do represent some decent value in this market if you like.

To Finish Second: Chile 6/5 at Paddy Power
If you do not fancy the chances of Switzerland creeping into second place, then a better bet for your World Cup betting strategy, will probably be backing Chile. Coach Marcelo Bielsa is one of the characters which will stand out from the dug out, as he leads his team forward. He has done wonders for instilling a new character to Chile, which makes them a stronger candidate than they ever been at the World Cup. When you think of Chile in World Cups past, you think of a defensively weak team, and that is the one area which Bielsa has worked hard on correcting, after drilling home his own unique style to the Chilean national side. During qualification from the South American zone, where they finished in second place, just one point behind Brazil, Chile showed a much improved all round ability and self control thanks to Bielsa’s system. This means they are much stronger at the back, and that point was proven during a good qualification campaign. That is not to say however, that anything has been taken away from their strong attacking prowess. They have the ideal start in playing Honduras, which means that if Switzerland lose against Spain, it will put pressure on them in having to play catch-up.

Over 16.5 Group Goals: 9/10 at Bwin
This group should have goals in it. Plenty of goals, with the way being led by Spain and Chile. Both have the capacity to run up some big scores.
Spain hit an average of 2.80, while Chile hit an average of 1.78 goals per match during their respective qualification zones. As harsh as things may be on Honduras, they will likely be the whipping boys, and unless Switzerland get back to their tight, efficient game, then they could be exposed by Spain and Chile too. Over the six group games that is just an average of 2.75 goals needed to hit this bet, which on paper, looks pretty feasible.

To Concede Most Goals: Honduras 11/17 at Bwin
Honduras finished third in the CONCACAF group, finishing three points behind Mexico, who they actually did beat during qualification. They had a fairly mixed bag of results, winning some games strongly, and then disappointing in other. Have landed themselves a tough draw, and their build up has not been the best. In 2010 they have lost to Turkey and Venezuela, whilst drawing matches against Belarus and most recently Azerbaijan in their international friendly matches. Having to face the attacking power of Spain and Chile, they really could face a lot of time defending. They conceded an average of a goal per game during qualification.

 Manager: Reinaldo Rueda
Captain: Amado  Guevara
FIFA Ranking: 40
World Cup Appearances: 1
Best World Cup: Round 1 – 1982

Honduras Team Profile

The Hondurans, in just their second ever World Cup, will have been pleased with their group in that it’s competitive enough that they could maybe spring a surprise with progression, while the dream fixture will be the one with the 2008 European Champions Spain.

As we’ve already mentioned, this will be just the second time Honduras will play in a World Cup after a 28 year drought without one. They are a surprise inclusion as very few fancied their chances in the North American qualifying sector, while Los Catrachos needed a huge slice of luck elsewhere to seal their progression, as a late USA goal against Costa Rica sparked frantic celebration over in Honduras. They’ll feel the Gods were looking down on them that day, and with the footballing Gods apparently on their side, they’ll head to South Africa with plenty of optimism aiming to bypass a fairly average Group H. Of course, Spain will be a tough assignment and one they look destined to fail in, but Chile and Switzerland aren’t the strongest of nation and so rightly so Honduras will fancy their chances of springing a genuine surprise in South Africa.

Nickname: Los Catrachos

Honduras Key Players

The majority of the Honduras team aren’t household names, while those of you who follow the main band of European league might recognise a few. The stand outs, though, are Amado Guevara (Captain), Wilson Palacios, David Suazo and their all-time leading scorer Carlos Pavon. The latter is 36 years of age but still manage to accumulate seven goals in nine qualifiers for his country, and while he may not have the freshest pair of legs, his experience and wisdom will be influential for the rest of the team.

Everyone should know what Wilson Palacios is all about. He’s one of the more professional players in the Premier League at his club Tottenham Hotspur. He simply sits in the centre of the field, calmly collecting the ball and distributing it all around the pitch. Palacios goes about his business in quite manner, but he’s effective at what he does and without him in the side Honduras would struggle to retain possession.

Carlos Pavon took most of the limelight with his 7 goals in 9 qualifiers, but he was amply assisted by Genoa’s David Suazo, who has been around the block with some big clubs in Europe, and he too has valuable experience and know-how which will aid Honduras well in South Africa in front of goal.

Justin Leon is another player to keep an eye out for, as his pace down the left flank will enable Honduras to puss forward more and exploit the full-back areas. He will look to bomb forward, hit the byline and deliver a telling cross in an area where either Pavon or Suazo can pounce.

Strengths

I would say undoubtedly their experienced forward duo of Carlos Pavon and David Suazo. They’ve experienced the big time at club level, while they’ve been in the Honduras team long enough to know where the through balls will go and where the crosses will land. Honduras have two smart and intelligent forwards at the forefront of their attack, two players which know how to sniff out a chance. The pair are proper goal-getters and will be valuable to Honduras over the course of the summer.

Weaknesses

Seeing as we haven’t seen too much of them, the lack of strength within the deeper reaches of the squad would be a concern, while the unfamiliarity of their defence will also spring a few doubts. Moreover, the fact they’ve scraped through qualification by the skin of teeth means they are the worst of the three North American teams in South Africa, which considering North American football isn’t the strongest, doesn’t bode at all well.

World Cup Potential: 1/5

We’re certain the Hondurans (Not an official nickname, but we’re sure it will catch on soon enough) will be a spirited bunch, and their travelling support of Honduras followers will make for a party atmosphere on the sidelines. Their two experienced forwards give them half-a-chance of perhaps nicking a few points off either Chile and Switzerland, but progression from the group would be a real surprise and an unlikely scenario. Even so, they’ll give their all and could well be a nation the neutrals pledge their vow of support to. After all, everyone loves an underdog.

Honduras World Cup Betting Odds

Honduras to win the World Cup: 1500  Bet365

Before the World Cup the odds on Honduras were 1000/1 

Official Honduras World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers

Noel Valladares (Olimpia)

Donis Escober (Olimpia)

Ricardo Canales (Motagua)

Defenders

Sergio Mendoza (Motagua)

Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua)

Mauricio Sabillon (Hangzhou Greentown/China)

Osman Chavez (Platense)

Johnny Palacios (Olimpia)

Maynor Figueroa (Wigan Athletic)

Victor Bernardez (RSC Anderlecht)

Midfielders

Danilo Turcios (Olimpia)

Hendry Thomas (Wigan Athletic)

Edgard Alvarez (AS Bari)

Roger Espinoza (Kansas City Wizards)

Amado Guevara (Motagua)

Wilson Palacios (Tottenham Hotspur)

Julia Cesar de Leon (Torino)

Oscar Boniek Garcia (Olimpia)

Strikers

Walter Martinez (Marathon)

Georgie Welcom (Motagua)

Ramon Nunez (Olimpia)

Carlos Pavon (Real Espana)

David Suazo (FC Genoa)

last update: 18 June 2010

World Cup 2010 Honduras Fixtures – Group H

World Cup Group H - Table

World Cup Fixtures and Results

World Cup Group of Honduras