Following their poor showing in the last FIFA World Cup in South Africa, France will look to bounce back strong and hit the ground running against a weaker Honduras team.
France’s squad is much-changed from the one that failed so spectacularly and are largely expected to progress as Group E winners under Didier Deschamps.
The abysmal 2010 campaign featured slip-ups against Mexico and hosts South Africa, meaning that France will be wary of avoiding another shock against a Honduras side viewed as outsiders in the group.
The two teams take to the pitch on Sunday harbouring the hope of clinching the all-important opening game victory.
It is set to be an interesting encounter given that the two teams have never played against each other before. What comes to mind and what could play a contributing factor for both sides is that France has a tendency of conceding sloppy goals. Their counterparts, Honduras, have a history of conceding way too many goals.
Such could potentially set up an encounter with plenty of goals, or one tainted by defensive errors.
The relatively unknown Honduras team will face France before a 51 300-seater Estadio Beira-Rio, in Porto Alegre. In their previous World Cup appearances, Honduras were pitted against tougher opponents, this time they might fancy their chances of advancing to the next round, with Ecuador and Switzerland completing the group.
“People underestimate us, so we can do this.”
While Honduras will look up to Jerry Bengtson and Carlo Costly’s striking partnership, the two top scorers in CONCACAF qualifiers, France has a wider pool of talented and young players to choose from.
Le Bleus, as France is affectionately known, have assembled a rather solid squad under Didier Deschamps. They also have a tendency of springing surprise players for big tournaments. With Kariem Benzema enjoying his game at present, this will serve a motivational boost to the likes of Raphael Varane, Paul Pogba and company.
France will sure miss livewire Frank Ribery who will miss the tournament owing to injury, but they have what it takes to go all the way.
Filling the void left by Ribery will be Deschamps’ main concern heading into the clash at Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, although the former Marseille coach has already asserted that he “knows his best line-up” for the encounter.
Whether that line-up includes Karim Benzema or Antoine Griezmann remains to be seen, but both should be in contention to take Ribery’s spot on the left flank after netting a brace apiece in the 8-0 rout of Jamaica last Sunday.
Meanwhile, Honduras’ preparations for the tournament were hit when midfielder Arnold Peralta was ruled out with a thigh injury, but, with strikers Jerry Bengtson and Carlo Costly having scored 16 goals between them in as many qualifiers, Luis Fernando Suarez’s men may have the firepower up front to cause France problems.
The Central American nation have never won a game at the World Cup, bowing out in the group stages in 1982 and 2010. However, following their hard-fought 0-0 friendly draw with England last Saturday, Deschamps is expecting a combative approach from Honduras.
“They have the aptitude for going into combat, we’re expecting that,” Deschamps said.
“It’s one of the characteristics of this team. I saw their last match against England.”
France will be widely anticipated to win by a handsome margin, but Suarez has already warned against underestimating his side.
“People underestimate us, so we can do this,” Suarez said.
“The group is evenly matched, there are going to be good possibilities for everyone. In the end, our ambition is to improve on what Honduras has done in the World Cup before. Our challenge is to get into the next round.”
– By Tshepo Tsheole
