Soccer: Experience gives the Hondurans an edge

History and other indicators suggest there will be little in it when New Zealand's All Whites go up against "Los Catrachos" from Honduras at North Harbour Stadium tomorrow night.

The opening match in the ASB International Series pits together two teams who have similar records.

Both have been to the World Cup twice - in Spain in 1982 and in South Africa this year. Both have played six matches at that level without a win, settling for three draws and three losses for three points.

In South Africa, New Zealand did fare better, with three draws. Honduras lost 1-0 to Chile and 2-0 to Spain before drawing 0-0 with Switzerland.

On current Fifa rankings, New Zealand come in at 49 (equal to their best - in 2002) while Honduras are at 52 after being as high as 34th in February this year and at 20th back in 2001.

A football-mad country, Honduras is among the 35 nations in the Concacaf (North and Central American) Confederation with only the United States and Mexico ranked higher.

Like New Zealand, Honduras went to the wire before claiming their spot in South Africa. Playing in the six-team fourth round in Concacaf, they won four of their five home matches but struggled away, losing to Costa Rica, the US and Mexico and drawing 1-1 with Trinidad and Tobago.

It came down to their last match, away to El Salvador, which Honduras won 1-0 for the third World Cup spot.

Honduras has had some noteworthy results over the years, none more than in 2001 when they were a last-minute invitee into the Copa America and reached the quarter-finals where they knocked out Brazil before losing in the semifinals to Colombia.

Hardly recognised as an attacking force, the Central Americans base their game on solid defence and their ability to frustrate.

At the 1982 World Cup they drew 1-1 with hosts Spain and repeated that effort against Northern Ireland before bowing out in going down 1-0 to Yugoslavia.

But they do have some attacking weapons, including striker Carlos Pavon, who went to South Africa with 56 goals to his credit - more than any other player at the World Cup.

While they have players at clubs outside their homeland including a couple in Britain and three in China, most play in their domestic competition, including goalkeeper and captain Noel Valladares, 33, who is one of four players from Olimpia in the squad.

The most experienced is midfielder Ivan Guerrero, 32, with 83 caps while defender Maynor Figueroa, 27, has 75.

On experience alone, they will go into tomorrow's game with a decided edge.

MAYNOR FIGUEROA

The experienced defender has been key to Honduras in recent years.

Figueroa, 27, started his career with Victoria but later moved to Olimpia from where he was given the opportunity to play for the New England Revolution in the MLS.

But that transfer offer, like others, was rejected until 2008 when he went to England and played in the Premier League with Wigan Athletic.

With his powerful left foot, and long throw, Figueroa is always a danger, especially from set play.

EDGAR ALVAREZ

Alvarez, 30, has ventured outside his homeland to make his mark.

He has played for Serie A club Roma and is currently at fellow Italian club Bari where he has played 37 games since last year.

Only 1.73m tall, the midfielder is well-recognised for his pace - on and off the ball - and agility.

After playing 100-plus games for Platense from 1996-2003, and after his international debut in 2000, Alvarez has been on the move but mainly, in recent times, in Italy.