2010 FIFA World Cup - Honduras

2010 FIFA World Cup - Honduras National Team

2010 FIFA World Cup - Honduras National Team 2010 FIFA World Cup Honduras National Team:
Goalkeepers:
1 Ricardo CANALES, 18 Noel VALLADARES and 22 Donis ESCOBER

Defenders:
2 Osman CHAVEZ, 3 Maynor FIGUEROA, 4 Jhony PALACIOS, 5 Victor BERNARDEZ, 14 Oscar GARCIA, 16 Mauricio SABILLON, 21 Emilio IZAGUIRRE and 23 Sergio MENDOZA

Midfielders:
6 Hendry THOMAS, 7 Ramon NUNEZ, 8 Wilson PALACIOS, 10 Julio Cesar DE LEON, 17 Edgar ALVAREZ, 19 Danilo TURCIOS and 20 Amado GUEVARA

Forwards:
9 Carlos PAVON, 11 David SUAZO, 12 George WELCOME, 13 Roger ESPINOZA and 15 Walter MARTINEZ

Coach:
Reinaldo RUEDA

Top Players Wilson Palacios (HON) and Carlos Pavon (HON).

2010 FIFA World Cup Schedule & Scores

2010 FIFA World Cup - Honduras National Team

The star players

Over and above the country's big-name stars plying their trade in the European game, Los Catrachos' key man in qualifying was evergreen 36-year-old forward Carlos Pavon. In typically clinical fashion, it was the well-travelled goalgetter who fired his side's winner in El Salvador to ensure their place at the African showpiece. Aided and abetted by the hugely talented David Suazo, Wilson Palacios, Julio Leon and Amado Guevara, Pavon would love nothing more than to crown his glorious international career with a goal-laden showing on the biggest stage of all.

The coach

For Honduras, qualifying phases for the FIFA World Cup qualifying had become something of a recurring nightmare. Always among the pre-event favourites, La Bicolor invariably contrived to fall short at key moments - that is until the arrival of 42-year-old Colombian strategist Rueda.

After taking the job in early 2007, his professionalism struck a chord with the powers that be in Honduran football, who gave him the time to work denied many of his predecessors. Rueda repaid that faith by guiding his adopted country to South Africa 2010 on the back of sparkling attacking football and a solid backline.

Previous FIFA World Cups

Honduras return to global football's top table after 28 years away. Their only previous appearance at the finals came at Spain 1982.
Under the watchful eye of then coach Jose de la Paz, Los Catrachos surprised the world by drawing 1-1 with the hosts and then with Northern Ireland, before exiting the tournament after conceding a late goal in a 1-0 defeat by the former Yugoslavia.
On the scoresheet for Honduras at that FIFA World Cup were Hector Zelaya and Antonio Laing, against Spain and Northern Ireland respectively.

Records

Prior to the 3-2 defeat by the United States in San Pedro Sula, Honduras had racked up an eight-game unbeaten home run in South Africa 2010 qualifying.
Honduras conceded just 11 goals in the final Hexagonal, the best defensive record in the section.
Veteran sharpshooter Pavon was Los Catrachos' most prolific scorer in qualifying, helping himself to an impressive seven goals in nine appearances.

Honduras - 2010 FIFA World Cup

Honduras Flag 2010 - Honduras

Honduras Team The outsiders Catracho fans think the world of Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda after he steered the Central Americans to only their second-ever FIFA World Cup finals appearance. The Hondurans claimed their place after a heart-stopping end to the qualification race, helping the country’s people put their political problems momentarily to one side. The talented Wilson Palacios is just one of the players the fans will be banking on to impress, while veteran Carlos Pavon is intent on ending an exceptional international career in style. Winless at Spain 1982, Honduras have their sights set on putting the record straight.