Catrachos ready

Honduras released its list of players it will use against Mexico on Aug. 20 in a World Cup qualifier.

The list includes a pair of MLS players in Amado Guevara and Ivan Guerrero.


Honduras and Mexico played a memorable game in Azteca, of course. Back in November 2001 Honduras needed a win to get into the 2002 World Cup and knock Mexico out in the process but that didn't happen as Mexico won 3-0 behind goals from Francisco Palencia and Cuauhtemoc Blanco.

This will be just as difficult for Honduras. Not only is the game in Azteca but Mexico will play for the first time under Sven Goran Eriksson, who will likely have his squad fired up for the game.

For Honduras and the other two teams in the group - Jamaica and Canada - the key will be to win at home. They'll need to win at home and hope for a draw or two on the road. If any of the three can get a result in Mexico - even just a draw would be monumental - that team will have a great chance of getting through to the semifinal round.

I cut and pasted this list from MedioTiempo.com and they organized it by players based outside of Honduras and their domestic contingent so that's how I'm pasting it here. Sorry for the confusion.

David Suazo (Inter), Julio César León (Parma), Edgar Alvarez (Roma), Carlos Costly (Belchatow, Polonia), Amado Guevara (Toronto), Wilson Palacios, Maynor Figueroa (Wigan), Iván Guerrero (DC United).

Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Víctor Coello (Marathon), Víctor Bernárdez (Motagua), Miguel Castillo (Motagua), Milton Núñez (Marathon), Danilo Turcios (Olimpia), Sergio Mendoza (Olimpia), Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua), Óscar Bonie García (Olimpia), John Aston Boden (Victoria), Saúl Martínez (Marathon) y Osman Chávez (Motagua).

GC Obit: Honduras

While I stand firm that Costa Rica is the biggest disappointment in the tournament (two consecutive World Cup appearances, showed little in this tourney), Honduras might be the biggest fraud.

In a span of four games, Honduras showed exactly why they can be dangerous and why they won't be anytime soon. Physically, Honduras is gifted. The win against Mexico was brilliant soccer. From the start, Honduras attacked and stood toe-to-toe with Mexico. Honduras was the superior side on the field that day, 11-on-11 or 11-on-10. After what should have been a confidence-building 5-0 win over Cuba, Honduras regressed back to late 2001.

Actually, Oct. 7, 2001. Honduras was on a roll and headed for the 2002 World Cup. Needing just a victory over Trinidad & Tobago in Tegucigalpa to all but wrap up a spot - and leave one place for the U.S. and Mexico to fight over - Honduras collapsed. Trinidad, who had exactly zero wins before the game, dealt a lethal blow to Honduras. Instead of sitting on 17 points entering the final game against Mexico (who sat on 14), Honduras went to Estadio Azteca needing a win to qualify. Yeah, right.

Honduras has all the makings of a strong regional side but until they develop a winning mentality, the catrachos will be perennial underachievers.