Soccer  > General Soccer  > Honduras still hoping for Suazo return
June 18, 2010, 04:56 PM
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- Honduras prepares for its second World Cup match against Spain, still unsure if striker David Suazo will be healthy enough to play.

Suazo injured his leg in a 3-0 friendly loss to Romania on June 5 and missed the Catrachos 1-0 opening defeat to Chile on Tuesday.

"He can get there, but he won't be 100 percent," team physician Dr. Oscar Benitez told Honduran daily La Prensa. "I have to be honest. Is David willing to run the risk? He tells me: 'I am ready. I ask you to let me demonstrate it on the field.'"

Honduran manager Reinaldo Rueda appeared to indicate that he wants Suazo completely healthy before he would risk playing him, unwilling to use the Genoa forward and face worsening the injury like what happened to Swiss defender Philippe Senderos.

Nursing an ankle injury, Senderos lasted only 36 minutes of Switzerland's 1-0 victory over Spain on Wednesday and now may be lost for the remainder of the tournament.

"In a World Cup you don't play if you are 100 percent but rather 500 percent," Rueda said. "You all saw Phillipe Senderos (Wednesday). He wasn't ready, he played and is now out of the World Cup."

After being dominated by Chile, generating little offensively and withstanding repeated attacks, Honduras next faces a desperate Spain, upset by the Swiss 1-0 after entering the tournament as one of the favorites.

"Spain had a lot of possession but did not convert, and Switzerland gained confidence, solving the match in a counterattack," Rueda said. "Then Switzerland mounted a strong defense and was well positioned. The Swiss victory is a lesson for world football and more for us because now the group is more complicated."


Group H

Wednesday, June 16
Honduras 0, Chile 1
Spain 0, Switzerland 1
Monday, June 21
Chile vs. Switzerland
Spain vs. Honduras
Fruiday, June 25
Switzerland vs. Honduras
Chile vs. Spain

Comment

Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.


Truth & Rumors

MOST POPULAR

  1. 1
    Dwyane Wade surprises teen at her prom
    Views
    2655
    Comments
    487
  2. 2
    Sharks GM: Raffi Torres suspended for 'clean hit'
    Views
    2008
    Comments
    42
  3. 3
    Dodgers president won't commit to Don Mattingly's future
    Views
    6892
    Comments
    34
  4. 4
    Manti Te'o attends Maxim party to support fake girlfriend
    Views
    1697
    Comments
    33
  5. 5
    Brad Richards demoted to Rangers' fourth line
    Views
    1712
    Comments
    26

SI.com

Swimsuit

SI Photos