In a still somewhat wide open Group E, Honduras tangles with Switzerland in the sauna known as the Arena Amazonia on Wednesday. Mathematically speaking, both teams still have a shot at advancing to the Round of 16, but the more likely scenario will be at least one or both teams will be going home after the match in the Jungle.
Honduras is in the cellar of Group E after not scoring a point in its first two matches. However, the team still has signs of optimism as there is still a scenario that can get Honduras into the knockout round. Honduras needs France to win big over Ecuador and then Los Catrachos need to win against Switzerland Wednesday, preferably by at least 3-4 goals.
Such a scenario seems extremely unlikely considering the fact that Honduras has only scored one goal in the last 32 years of World Cup play and has lost their last eight straight World Cup games.
Real Espana striker, Carlos Costly was the man that broke the goalless curse for Honduras in their 2-1 loss to Ecuador last Friday.
“I was so happy when I scored that goal, because 32 years is a long time and a difficult barrier to overcome,” he told FIFA.com after the match. “That myth, that curse which has been hanging over us for so long, has been laid to rest now but, even so, we’ve still got a slightly bitter taste in our mouths because we had a great chance of winning the game. Unfortunately it didn’t turn out that way, but we played well so we can hold our heads up high.”
Honduras has never beaten a European team at the World Cup, but that could all change on Wednesday. The game is being played in the now infamous Amazon where we have seen many teams (Portugal, Italy, U.S.A. etc.) struggle under the harsh heat and humidity conditions that the jungle poses. Honduras is used to playing in such whether in their native land, and should feel right at home in the Jungle. Switzerland on the other hand did not play outside Europe at all over the past four years, and definitely will feel the effects of the weather, especially in the second half.
Switzerland needs to get off the mat after getting blown out by France 5-2 last Friday. The Swiss have to get three points against Honduras and then hope the French can beat Ecuador at the same time. If both results occur, Switzerland is in to the Round of 16.
Swiss midfielders, Blerim Dzemali and Grant Xhaka who both scored in the final 10 minutes of the match against Les Bleus still believe that their country can regroup and do what it takes to make it to the next round. “You shouldn’t forget that we are little Switzerland.” Xhaka said. “We still have big dreams.”
Both teams come into the match in the Amazon relatively uninjured. Switzerland will be without Steve von Bergen who was injured in the match against France and has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2014 World Cup. Wilson Palacios is set to make his return for Los Catrachos after being suspended in Honduras’ second game for a red card he received in the opener against France. Palacios is arguably Honduras best player and will be vital in bringing the rough physical style of play that Honduras is known for.
The game is set to kick off at 4:00 PM EST at the Arena Amazonia in Manaus. It can be seen on ESPN 2 and in Spanish on Univision. If you want to live stream the match, simply go to WatchESPN here and here for a live stream in Spanish.
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