Honduras vs Ecuador: World Cup 2014 match preview
A look ahead to Friday’s World Cup Group E encounter in Curitiba
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Your support makes all the difference.Friday's late game sees tournament bully boys Honduras take on an Ecuador side still smarting from a last minute defeat in their opening game, with the loser potentially facing elimination from the tournament.
Throw in strained diplomatic relations between the two countries and the fact that both managers are former managers of each other's country (Ecuador boss Reinaldo Rueda led Honduras at the 2010 World Cup, Honduras boss Luis Fernando Suarez led Ecuador at the 2006 tournament) and you have the recipe for a thrilling encounter in Curitiba.
Honduras midfielder Wilson Palacios is suspended after his red card against France in the opening game, so former Hibernian loanee Jorge Claros or Oscar Boniek Garcia could start.
Ecuador meanwhile are highly likely to put out the same side that so agonisingly lost to Switzerland in their group opener.
Kick-off: Friday, 11pm
Past meeting:
Honduras 2 (Costly x2) Ecuador 2 (Ayovi, Valencia), Friendly, November 2013
Stats:
This is the first competitive fixture between the two nations.
Honduras await their first World Cup win, having drawn three and lost four of the previous seven.
Honduras' last World Cup goal was scored in 1982, when Tony Laing netted against Northern Ireland in a 1-1 group stage draw.
Enner Valencia has scored in each of his last five appearances for Ecuador.
Honduras had just 29.2% possession in the 3-0 defeat by France, the lowest tally by any side in their opening game at the 2014 World Cup.
Odds:
Honduras to win: 5.75
Ecuador Rica to win: 1.7
Draw: 3.8
TV: Live on ITV at 11pm
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