Socceroos v Honduras: Dates confirmed for Australia’s next World Cup play-off matches

THE Socceroos have received confirmation of their World Cup qualifying schedule against Honduras but are still awaiting details of the match venue and time for the away clash.

THE Socceroos have received confirmation of their World Cup qualifying schedule against Honduras but are still awaiting details of the match venue and time for the away clash.

Australia will open their two-leg series in Honduras on Friday, November 10 and return for the home fixture at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday, November 15. While the match in Honduras was expected to be played at San Pedro Sula, FFA said it had yet to receive confirmation of a venue or kick-off time. The winner of the two-leg series qualifies for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. DATES: Friday November 10 (Saturday November 11 AEDT) Wednesday November 15 from 8pm (AEDT) Sydney. Australian soccer in crisis, Ange the fall guy HONDURAS FEELS THE LOVE FOR AUSTRALIA By Glenn Cullen SYDNEY, Oct. 12 AAP — Getting to Australia will be hard enough for the Honduran soccer team; getting them to leave will be something else altogether if their players pay much attention to tabloid newspaper Diez. Far from slighting Australia ahead of next month’s two-leg World Cup qualifying playoff against the Socceroos, the San Pedro Sula-based newspaper has gone to great lengths to paint an ideal picture of this part of the world. “Such is the incredible life in Australia, the country with one of the best salaries in the world,” the headline to an 18-picture photo essay gushed. “Australia offers one of the highest standards of living in the world. Life in Australia is safe, friendly and sophisticated and attracts thousands of professionals from all over the world.” The Hondurans were apparently mulling over whether to come to Australia via South America or the United States for the second leg and according to Diez its federation was preparing to spend more than $A500,000 for the trip. Diez’s second photo gallery was equally as effusive, if mired somewhere in the 1980s: “Australia, the country that seduces everyone with the spectacular beauty of its women.” As for the upcoming fixtures, Honduras, like the Socceroos without Mathew Leckie and Mark Milligan, have to deal with two players being unavailable due to the accumulation of yellow cards in qualifiers. Defender Maynor Figueroa and forward Alberth Elis both received second yellow cards during their 3-2 win over Mexico and will only be available for the second leg in Sydney. But up to six other players who weren’t available for the Mexico match will apparently come into consideration for the Socceroos fixtures including Anderlecht right back Andy Najar and former Wigan midfielder/winger Roger Espinoza. Unsurprisingly the Hondurans see their best chance as putting a score on Australia in the opening leg to be played in San Pedro Sula. “We can win by taking advantage of the locality, taking advantage of it here and going to make a good game there,” said midfielder and Spanish second division player Bryan Acosta, quoted in national Honduras paper, La Prensa. And the man the Hondurans apparently most fear? No surprises there either. “Tim Cahill is the great figure of Australia and the man Honduras must take care of,” Diez wrote. THINKING OF TRAVELLING TO HONDURUS? The central American nation has been labelled the most dangerous country on Earth outside of a war zone. Before booking tickets, here are some fast facts: — The capital is Tegucigalpa, the population is 9.1 million and the most commonly spoken language is Castilian, a local version of Spanish — More than half the country lives below the poverty line — The murder rate is the highest in the world at 90 per 100,000 people — almost double second-ranked Venezuela. Australia records one murder per 100,000 people. — The US Government restricts staff from visiting some parts of the country and advises that Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula are two of the most violent cities in the world — ‘Armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars travelling from the airport to area hotels’ are listed as specific threats in large areas controlled by crime gangs — The US travel warning also warns of extortion attempts, carjacking, credit card skimming, home invasions and kidnappings — While driving in Honduras watch for cars driving at night without headlights and routinely ignoring traffic signals on crumbling roads in cars that don’t meet international safety standards. According to the State Department, “animals/people wander on to the roads at all ours” and “motorists should avoid travelling at night and always drive with their doors locked and windows rolled up to deter potential robberies at traffic lights and on congested downtown streets.” - Public transport is not a safe alternative. Buses are routinely targeted by gangs and passengers are attacked by muggers who ride on a daily schedule, committing crimes with impunity — Public demonstrations, protests and strikes are common — Honduras is subject to tropical storms and hurricanes, which cause flooding and mudslides. The rainy season runs from May-November. — If you venture into the jungle, keep an eye out for crocodiles, piranhas and several deadly snakes including the green palm pit viper, coral snake and middle American rattlesnake — On the positive side, Lonely Planet says Honduras is great value for money. Attractions include Maya ruins, pristine coral beaches, diving on coral reefs and the best white-water rafting in South America.

Originally published as Socceroos v Honduras: Dates confirmed for Australia’s next World Cup play-off matches