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Local Honduras Fans Anticipate USA World Cup Qualifying Clash
Goal.com's Noah Davis is on site in Honduras in preparation for the crucial World Cup qualifier between Honduras and the United States. He checks in with a look at the local fan anticipation for the game.
Oct 8, 2009 11:23:59 PM
By Noah Davis
SAN PEDRO SULA -- The drums outside my hotel room five stories above Parque Central in Honduras' economic capital started earlier this afternoon and I can't imagine they will stop until late Saturday night. Okay, let's be honest: they won't cease until Sunday morning at the earliest. Few in this city will sleep after the vital World Cup qualifying match between the home side and the United States in Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, no matter the outcome. There's too much excitement in a country that needs a distraction. Citizens are traveling from all over the country just to be near the 45,000-seat stadium.
But who's going to win? In order to find out, I hit the streets of San Pedro Sula this afternoon to ask local residents.
To Honduran youth -- raised in a era of relative football prosperity -- the outcome is inevitable: three points and a virtual lock on one of the three CONCACAF World Cup slots.
"We'll win 1-0, because the U.S. is a really complete team," Anell, 17, told me earlier today. There is literally no doubt in his mind that his side will be on top when referee Roberto Moreno blows the final whistle; only the talent of the American side will keep the outcome close.
"Playing Central American countries at home is really difficult," the teen continued. "Look what happened to the U.S. in El Salvador."
Later, while watching a local youth soccer team practice, some players gave me their predictions. As he laced up his brand new ASICS after training with his 16-19 year old team, Amando offered a scoreline of 2-0 because "we're at home."
Almost invariably, the younger the child, the higher his predicted margin of victory. It's clear that growing up during the time of David Suazo, Wilson Palacios, and the rest of Honduras' Golden Generation is having a positive impact on their view of the country's place in the footballing universe.
The older generation, who remember failed World Cup bids and harsh defeats including a 2-1 loss to the U.S. in 2001, remains more apprehensive. Luis Cruz, a former Honduran international and the coach of the squad I watched, thought both teams were good and it was going to be an exciting match filled with athleticism. He believes the U.S has taken great strides in its organization and tactics, while the Catrachos are greatly improved from the teams he played on in the mid-1980s. When pressed for a winner, however, all he would do was smile.
The closest anyone over the age of 25 came to saying Honduras was going to win was one man who admitted, "If Honduras doesn't make many mistakes, they will win." (Of course, after learning I was an American, one street vendor did explain that the U.S. would lose because "Landon Donovan has small balls." Not exactly sound logic, but at least he took a stance.)
Pelotas pequenas or not, the U.S.'s best field player has earned the respect of Honduran fans (one ice cream vendor notwithstanding).
"I don't know [who's going to win], man. You guys got Donovan -- that's how you pronounce it, Don-o-von," Camby, a transplanted Belize native, said. "He's a bad ass, god damn dude."
In fact, the Los Angeles Galaxy striker was the only member of the American almost everyone I spoke with could name. Only Anell knows players beyond Donovan.
"Donovan. Altidore. Dempsey -- we're lucky he's hurt -- Bocanegra" he said, while reeling off more names. "Don't get me started."
While most Honduran residents admitted they were going to watch the match from their houses or a local bar, the 17-year-old displayed a traditional teenage bravado.
"I'll be in the stadium on Saturday," he said, smiling as if his presence would make all the difference. "I have to be."
Something tells me after the match he'll be five stories below my window, joyously banging on a drum.
Noah Davis covers the Untied States National Team for Goal.com.
Visit the U.S. national team page on Goal.com for more
SAN PEDRO SULA -- The drums outside my hotel room five stories above Parque Central in Honduras' economic capital started earlier this afternoon and I can't imagine they will stop until late Saturday night. Okay, let's be honest: they won't cease until Sunday morning at the earliest. Few in this city will sleep after the vital World Cup qualifying match between the home side and the United States in Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, no matter the outcome. There's too much excitement in a country that needs a distraction. Citizens are traveling from all over the country just to be near the 45,000-seat stadium.
But who's going to win? In order to find out, I hit the streets of San Pedro Sula this afternoon to ask local residents.
To Honduran youth -- raised in a era of relative football prosperity -- the outcome is inevitable: three points and a virtual lock on one of the three CONCACAF World Cup slots.
"We'll win 1-0, because the U.S. is a really complete team," Anell, 17, told me earlier today. There is literally no doubt in his mind that his side will be on top when referee Roberto Moreno blows the final whistle; only the talent of the American side will keep the outcome close.
"Playing Central American countries at home is really difficult," the teen continued. "Look what happened to the U.S. in El Salvador."
Later, while watching a local youth soccer team practice, some players gave me their predictions. As he laced up his brand new ASICS after training with his 16-19 year old team, Amando offered a scoreline of 2-0 because "we're at home."
Almost invariably, the younger the child, the higher his predicted margin of victory. It's clear that growing up during the time of David Suazo, Wilson Palacios, and the rest of Honduras' Golden Generation is having a positive impact on their view of the country's place in the footballing universe.
The older generation, who remember failed World Cup bids and harsh defeats including a 2-1 loss to the U.S. in 2001, remains more apprehensive. Luis Cruz, a former Honduran international and the coach of the squad I watched, thought both teams were good and it was going to be an exciting match filled with athleticism. He believes the U.S has taken great strides in its organization and tactics, while the Catrachos are greatly improved from the teams he played on in the mid-1980s. When pressed for a winner, however, all he would do was smile.
The closest anyone over the age of 25 came to saying Honduras was going to win was one man who admitted, "If Honduras doesn't make many mistakes, they will win." (Of course, after learning I was an American, one street vendor did explain that the U.S. would lose because "Landon Donovan has small balls." Not exactly sound logic, but at least he took a stance.)
Pelotas pequenas or not, the U.S.'s best field player has earned the respect of Honduran fans (one ice cream vendor notwithstanding).
"I don't know [who's going to win], man. You guys got Donovan -- that's how you pronounce it, Don-o-von," Camby, a transplanted Belize native, said. "He's a bad ass, god damn dude."
In fact, the Los Angeles Galaxy striker was the only member of the American almost everyone I spoke with could name. Only Anell knows players beyond Donovan.
"Donovan. Altidore. Dempsey -- we're lucky he's hurt -- Bocanegra" he said, while reeling off more names. "Don't get me started."
While most Honduran residents admitted they were going to watch the match from their houses or a local bar, the 17-year-old displayed a traditional teenage bravado.
"I'll be in the stadium on Saturday," he said, smiling as if his presence would make all the difference. "I have to be."
Something tells me after the match he'll be five stories below my window, joyously banging on a drum.
Noah Davis covers the Untied States National Team for Goal.com.
Visit the U.S. national team page on Goal.com for more
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