Honduras team arrives in Nelspruit

Honduras team arrives in Nelspruit

Published Jun. 14, 2010 11:03 a.m. ET

Honduras players touched down in Nelspruit on Monday morning, two days before their opening World Cup match against Chile.

The plane landed at Kruger Mpumalanga airport and the squad boarded a bus for the team hotel. A training session was planned for 5 p.m. (1500 GMT).

Honduras plays Chile at the Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit on Wednesday. The group also contains Spain and Switzerland.

Honduras last played in the World Cup in 1982, registering draws against Spain and Northern Ireland before losing to Yugoslavia to finish bottom of the group.

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In a difficult group, most onlookers believe the team would do well to better that record this time around.

Nonetheless, with players like Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios and Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Honduras could surprise people.

Much will depend on the fitness of forward David Suazo, who played last season at Genoa on loan from Inter Milan.

Honduras trainer Carlos Velasco said Sunday that Suazo would not recover from a right leg injury in time to feature against Chile, though the final decision would be left up to coach Reinaldo Rueda.

There was better news regarding Palacios, however, with the Spurs player said to be ready to play after overcoming a left thigh injury.

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