Reparation of the US-Boys?
World Cup tickets have already been solved in Europe, South America and Asia. In the CONCACAF zone of North and Central America it is not yet so far. In the last group phase, which will be played with eight teams for the first time this year, clear conditions have emerged. Four to a maximum of five teams are still fighting for three direct tickets and participation in the intercontinental play-offs.
It would be a tragedy for the United States not to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar. Before Thursday night’s clash against Honduras, however, things at least don’t look bad. Behind their neighbours Canada (22 points), the USA are in second place with 18 points. The Mexicans, who have the same number of points, and Panama, with 17 points, are still in second place.
Costa Rica, in fifth place, is still in the race with 13 points and four games to go. El Salvador and Jamaica have only theoretical chances and Honduras is the only team that is already safely out of the race.
The Catrachos have picked up just three points from ten games. This small country in Central America has already made a name for itself at several World Cups, but they will not be competing in Qatar. They may therefore lack the motivation to go all out in Minnesota, so a handicap win for the United States between the USA and Honduras sounds plausible.
USA – Statistics & current form
From 1990 to 2014, the United States were regulars at World Cups. The US Boys missed out on the 2018 World Cup in Russia and perhaps a trauma has developed in the minds of an entire football nation. Qualification for the tournament in Qatar, which was thought to be so certain, is suddenly not so certain at all and if the US don’t deliver now, things will get really tight.
Canada defeat in the heads
However, Gregg Berhalter’s team has no reason to get restless now. In their last 20 games, the reigning Gold Cup champions have conceded just two defeats. If the Americans focus on their strengths, then odds on a home win should probably be the best bet in Thursday night’s clash between the USA and Honduras.
However, the US Boys have a defeat in their backpack. Gregg Berhalter’s team conceded a 2-0 defeat at their neighbours in Canada, of all places, who have been so far behind the United States in terms of football in recent years. It was a game of equals, but the Maple Leafs were that little bit more cool-headed and thus secured the three points.
To make matters worse, RB Leipzig’s Tyler Adams suffered a hamstring strain and is likely to miss the game against Honduras. Konrad de la Fuentes is also questionable. Nevertheless, the US Boys have a lot of potential, among others with Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie or Sergino Dest, so that a home win against the bottom team should be mandatory.
Predicted line-up of USA:
Turner – A. Robinson, Richards, M. Robinson, Dest – Acosta – Musah, McKennie, Pulisic, Aaronson – Zardes – Coach: Berhalter
Last matches played by USA:
World Cup Qualifiers CONCACAF Finals
01/30 2022 – Canada 2 – 0 USA
01/28 2022 – USA 1 – 0 El Salvador
Friendly match
12/19 2021 – USA 1 – 0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
World Cup Qualifiers CONCACAF Finals
11/16 2021 – Jamaica 1 – 1 USA
11/13 2021 – USA 2 – 0 Mexico
Honduras – Statistics & current form
Hernan Dario Gomez has a big name as a coach in South and Central America. He has already led teams from his home country Colombia, Ecuador and most recently Panama to World Cup finals. With his engagement in Honduras, however, the coach has apparently accepted a suicide mission. The Catrachos already have no chance of playing in Qatar.
Tumbling Catrachos
On 16 October, Hernan Dario Gomez took the helm, but it did nothing to slow the Hondurans’ free fall. Under the Colombian’s direction, there have been five defeats in five games. In total, they have been waiting for a win for 13 games, with only three draws in that time. Therefore, the forecast for the match between the USA and Honduras cannot be an away win at all.
The most recent bitter loss came when they hosted El Salvador in San Pedro Sula in a basement duel. It was already clear beforehand that the World Cup would not happen, but at least a turnaround was to be initiated. In the end, Honduras suffered a 2-0 home defeat, making them the only team still without a win in this final group stage.
It was not so long ago that many of the Catrachos played for good European clubs, for example in Belgium or Scotland. Now there is not much left of that. Most Hondurans now play at home and that should also be a reason why they are no longer at international level. Even Hernan Dario Gomez can’t work miracles here.
Predicted line-up of Honduras:
Menjivar – Flores, Maldonado, Vargas, Quaye – Arriaga, Mejia, Lopez, Toro – Rochez, Moya – Coach: Gomez
Last matches played by Honduras:
World Cup Qualifiers CONCACAF Finals
01/31 2022 – Honduras 0 – 2 El Salvador
01/28 2022 – Honduras 0 – 2 Canada
Friendly match
01/16 2022 – Colombia 2 – 1 Honduras
World Cup Qualifier CONCACAF Finals
11/17 2021 – Costa Rica 2 – 1 Honduras
11/13 2021 – Honduras 2 – 3 Panama
USA – Honduras Direct comparison / H2H balance
27 times the national teams from the United States and Honduras have crossed paths to date. As a rule, they have not been pleasant encounters for the Catrachos. The direct comparison, with 18:4 victories, is clearly in favour of the US Boys. Five games ended in a draw. The Hondurans have only won two competitive matches, the last in February 2013.
The last match was in September last year. In San Pedro Sula, Honduras took a 1-0 lead after a goal by Brayan Velasquez and were still ahead at the break. But the US boys turned up the heat in the second period, with goals from Antonee Robinson, Ricardo Pepi, Branden Aaronson and Sebastian Lletget earning them a 4-1 away win.
USA – Honduras Tip
It would be a drama for the USA if they were to further squander their decent starting position in World Cup qualifying after the loss in Canada with another point against Honduras. However, almost everything points to the home side claiming a home win on Thursday night.
After all, the US have only lost twice in their last 20 international matches. Just be careful that thoughts don’t drift too much to the missed qualification before the 2018 World Cup.
The Catrachos have not won in 13 international matches and have lost seven in a row recently. Hernan Dario Gomez has not been the saviour they had hoped for and after their final exit in the World Cup qualifiers, motivation is unlikely to be as abundant. That is why we have decided to play the betting odds on a handicap win (1.5) for the United States between the USA and Honduras
