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July 29, 2012 7:45 p.m. IST
St. James' Park — Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Referee: J. Soto
Attendance: 26523
Spain - Honduras Preview: Luis Milla's team desperate to bounce back from Japan defeat
After the shock humbling at the hands of the Asian nation, changes are likely for La Furia Roja and Luis Suarez's team could incur the wrath of Juan Mata and Co.
By Ryan Benson
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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SPAIN
De Gea Azpilicueta, Dominguez, Botia, Alba Ander, Martinez Mata, Isco, Muniain Adrian |
HONDURAS
Mendoza Leveron, Velasquez, Lopez, Figueroa Peralta, Martinez Mejia, Espinoza, Najar Bengtson |
Following his team’s shock 1-0 defeat to Japan on Thursday, Spain coach Luis Milla will likely ring the changes for the crucial tie against Honduras after slating his side’s performance in the loss.
Real Sociedad centre-back Inigo Martinez saw himself sent-off in the Group C opener and will most likely be replaced by Sporting Gijon man Alberto Botia, meanwhile Cesar Azpilicueta could come in for Martin Montoya at right-back.
Providing players pass fitness tests, Milla also looks set to make changes in midfield. Atletico Madrid’s Koke could be replaced by Ander Herrera, while the diminutive midfielder’s team-mate at Athletic Bilbao – Iker Muniain – could start in place of Rodrigo after injury ruled him out of the Japan defeat.
In contrast to Spain, Honduras coach Luis Suarez was pleased with his team’s showing in their first match of the tournament, earning a 2-2 draw against a good Morocco side; therefore wholesale changes are not expected with no new injury problems reported.
Against the North Africans Suarez elected to swarm the midfield and play just the one striker, tactics that look certain to be chosen once again with Jerry Bengtson looking to build on his day one double.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Spain and Honduras have only ever met twice, both games taking place at the World Cup.
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The two teams drew 1-1 at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, while Vicente Del Bosque’s La Furia Roja eased to a comfortable 2-0 win in 2010 on the way to their first ever World Cup triumph.
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This is only the third time Honduras have played football at the Olympics, first appearing in Sydney in 2000, followed by Beijing eight years later.
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Of their seven matches so far they have managed just one win, drawing a further two and losing the rest.
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Spain’s previous Olympics record is impressive, winning the gold medal in 1992, followed by a quarter-final finish in 1996 and losing in the final four years later to Cameroon. From 17 matches they have lost just three.
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Honduras’ Maynor Figueroa (pictured right) has more than twice as many full international caps (88) as the entire Spanish squad (43).
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Of the Honduras squad only Figueroa and Roger Espinoza were at the 2010 World Cup, while Juan Mata and Javi Martinez were part of Spain’s winning unit.
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Eleven of the Spain squad that lifted the 2011 European Under-21 Championship trophy are in the party this summer.
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Atletico Madrid’s Adrian Lopez played a key role in the Under-21 victory, bagging five goals on the way to claiming the golden boot
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Spain U-23 2-0 Honduras U-23
- 20.96 %
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Spain U-23 3-0 Honduras U-23
- 13.31 %
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Spain U-23 3-1 Honduras U-23
- 10.2 %
| Olympic Games (OLY) | 29 Jul 2012 | Spain U-23 0 - Honduras U-23 1 |
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| 1 Aug 2012 | Spain U-23 0 - Morocco U-23 0 | OLY |
| 29 Jul 2012 | Spain U-23 0 - Honduras U-23 1 | OLY |
| 26 Jul 2012 | Spain U-23 0 - Japan U-23 1 | OLY |
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| 4 Aug 2012 | Brazil U-23 3 - Honduras U-23 2 | OLY |
| 1 Aug 2012 | Japan U-23 0 - Honduras U-23 0 | OLY |
| 29 Jul 2012 | Spain U-23 0 - Honduras U-23 1 | OLY |
| 26 Jul 2012 | Honduras U-23 2 - Morocco U-23 2 | OLY |
| 3 Apr 2012 | Honduras U-23 1 - Mexico U-23 2 | OCaf |
| - | David de Gea | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Álvaro Domínguez | Defender |
| 18 | Jordi Alba | Defender |
| - | Montoya | Defender |
| 13 | Botía | Defender |
| - | Javi Martínez | Midfielder |
| 8 | Koke | Midfielder |
| 10 | Isco | Midfielder |
| 7 | Adrián | Striker |
| 7 | Muniain | Striker |
| 13 | Juan Mata | Striker |
| 1 | Diego Mariño | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | César Azpilicueta | Defender |
| 6 | Íñigo Martínez | Defender |
| 4 | Oriol Romeu | Midfielder |
| 17 | Ander Herrera | Midfielder |
| 9 | Rodrigo | Striker |
| - | Tello | Striker |
| - | J. Mendoza | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | W. Crisanto | Defender |
| 3 | Maynor Figueroa | Defender |
| - | J. Velásquez | Defender |
| 16 | J. Leverón | Defender |
| 15 | A. Peralta | Midfielder |
| 7 | Mario Martínez | Midfielder |
| 14 | A. Najar | Midfielder |
| - | R. Espinoza | Midfielder |
| 17 | Luis Garrido | Striker |
| - | J. Bengtson | Striker |
| 18 | F. Reyes | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | H. Colón | Defender |
| 17 | A. López | Defender |
| - | O. Peralta | Defender |
| 12 | A. Mejía | Midfielder |
| 9 | A. Lozano | Striker |
| 13 | E. Hernandez | Striker |
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Leandro Damião Striker Internacional |
6 | 0 |
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Moussa Konaté Striker Krasnodar |
5 | 0 |
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O. Peralta Striker Santos Laguna |
4 | 0 |
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Giovani dos Santos Striker Mallorca |
3 | 1 |
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Neymar Striker Santos |
3 | 1 |
