Honduras seek inspiration
A family tragedy will inspire Honduras midfielder Wilson Palacios when he confronts Chile Wednesday in a Group H Nelspruit showdown.
Younger brother Edwin was kidnapped in the politically troubled Central American country three years ago and although a 150,000-dollar ransom was paid, his body was discovered in a remote rural area.
"Everything I do in football is for Edwin. He is watching over me," Palacios told Honduran reporters as the country prepares for only their second appearance at the four-yearly football spectacle.
In a squad containing 14 local semi-professionals, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa and midfielder Hendry Thomas are other English Premiership representatives.
Honduras proved a tough nut to crack in Spain 28 years ago, drawing twice and losing the other group game by a single goal.
Since defeating Yugoslavia to finish third as hosts of the 1962 tournament, Chile have played 13 matches in four appearances without celebrating a victory.
But hopes are high that a team which finished second behind Brazil in the qualifying competition for South Africa can not only defeat Honduras, but reach the second round.
The Chilean schedule suggests they will face increasingly tougher opposition with Honduras followed by European rivals Switzerland and World Cup favourites Spain.
This is a young, hungry Chilean outfit lacking household international names that has already impressed in South Africa, defeating the host nation more convincingly than a 2-0 scoreline suggests in a friendly last year.
Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa, whose El Loco nickname hardly does him justice, favours a 3-3-1-3 system with the team swarming about the field like bees, trying to unsettle rivals.
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