Left: Ecuador’s coach Reinaldo Rueda and Honduras’ coach Luis Suarez.
Ecuador and Honduras coaches Reinaldo Rueda and Luis Suarez will both face their old sides as the two group outsiders look to get their first points of the World Cup when they meet in Curitiba today.
Rueda’s Ecuador were beaten 2-1 by Switzerland in their opening Group E match thanks to Haris Seferovic’s stoppage time winner.
The Colombian lamented his side’s lack of killer instinct in front of goal against the Swiss, but has insisted he won’t make any changes for the game against the country he led at the last World Cup.
“There is no time to cry. We have another game in front of us and we need to move on,” he said.
“We know that Honduras are difficult opponents that are well-organised and it will be an intense match. We played well against Switzerland, but we weren’t effective.”
Former Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo will therefore continue to lead the line up front with Enner Valencia and Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia in support.
Suarez, meanwhile, guided Ecuador to their best ever showing at the World Cup when they reached the last 16 in 2006.
Honduras were easily swept aside 3-0 by France on Sunday after having Wilson Palacios sent-off just before half-time. But Suarez is confident his side can get themselves back into contention in the group with their first ever World Cup win in their third appearance at the finals.
“We will have to prepare for a very important 90 minutes and we have to play better than against France, that is obvious. Each game is a new opportunity and we believe we are well equipped to get the result in the next match,” he said.
And Wigan defender Juan Carlos Garcia insisted all is not lost for Honduras despite a disappointing showing against the French.
“We haven’t lost anything yet, it is still up for grabs,” he said. “Although we are aware that we don’t have the luxury of losing another game.
“I understand the concern of the Honduran people, but we haven’t lost everything, we still depend on ourselves. Ecuador are a great team that possess players of the same characteristics as ours. They have quick, fast players. They also like to have the ball and move off the ball. We know it will be a very quick-paced game.”
Oscar Garcia of Houston Dynamo is expected to replace the suspended Palacios in midfield, while centre-back Victor Bernandez is also a serious injury doubt after he was forced off at half-time against France.
Honduras keen to end 480-minute goal drought
Honduras will be trying to end their World Cup goal drought today against Ecuador, and avoid creating a new negative record.
If they do not score by the 37th minute of today’s match then they will have broken the record of going the most minutes without scoring — currently held by Bolivia.
Honduras have gone 480 minutes without scoring, since Antonio Laing scored for them against Northern Ireland in 1982, in a 1-1 draw.
“We will score sooner or later, we are calm about it. The people back home want to celebrate a goal,” striker Jerry Palacios said. “We talk a lot about scoring. This is a World Cup and we have to enjoy ourselves and be daring, playing without fear. Everything will be different against Ecuador.”
In their 3-0 debut defeat against France, Honduras only threatened the goalmouth of Hugo Lloris on two isolated occasions.
Honduras failed to score in the 2010 World Cup, against Chile, Spain and Switzerland.
“I would give one of my kidneys to find a proper goalscorer,” said Honduras coach Luis Suarez last year.
“Coach Suarez is not to blame for our lack of goals, it’s us players who are out on the pitch, not him,” said Palacios.
Factbox: Honduras vs Ecuador
Where: Baixada arena, Curitiba
Capacity: 39,631
Referee: Benjamin Williams (Australia)
Probable teams:
Honduras: 18-Noel Valladares; 21-Brayan Beckeles, 5-Victor Bernardez, 3-Maynor Figueroa, 7-Emilio Izaguirre; 17-Andy Najar, 14-Oscar Boniek Garcia, 19-Luis Garrido, 15-Roger Espinoza; 11-Jerry Bengtson, 13-Carlo Costly
Ecuador: 22-Alexander Dominguez; 4-Juan Carlos Paredes, 2-Jorge Guagua, 3-Frickson Erazo, 10-Walter Ayovi; 16-Antonio Valencia, 23-Carlos Gruezo, 6-Cristian Noboa, 7-Jefferson Montero; 13-Enner Valencia, 11-Felice Caicedo
Match facts:
Both coaches are Colombians and have previously been in charge of their opponents. Current Honduras coach Luis Fernando Suarez took Ecuador to the second round of the World Cup in 2006. Reinaldo Rueda led Honduras to the 2010 tournament but left after they failed to make it past the first round.
Honduras have appeared in two tournaments - 1982 and 2010 - but have yet to win a game. Their last World Cup goal was against Northern Ireland on June 21, 1982.
Ecuador are appearing at their third World Cup after 2002 and 2006.
Previous meetings: The sides drew no fewer than eight of their 13 encounters, all of which were friendly games. They last met in the US city of Houston last November when the game ended 2-2.