World Cup preview, Group E: Honduras

They really, really, really need a miracle.

Top Man Carlo Costly is the country’s top scorer and a bit of a controversial figure in the Honduran football. Having failed to find a club side when his contract was up at Mexican side Atlas, Costly decided to take a six-month sabbatical and play football “with the fat blokes” in Miami on the beach. Those words were those of coach Luis Fernando Suarez, who dropped him from the national team. Costly made his way back in, however, and is expected to lead the Honduran attack this summer. Rising star They’re no spring chickens, the Honduras side, and there’s no young player that jumps out as being one to watch. One player who will be familiar to football fans in this part of the world is Emilio Izaguirre, Celtic’s rampaging full-back who was being linked with some of the top clubs in the Premier League before a bad injury curtailed his season in 2011/2012. He has never quite reached those heights since but is still one of Honduras’ few genuine attacking threats. Did you know? The squad features a number of English-based players – Maynor Figueroa, Roger Espinoza and Wilson Palacios are all familiar to fans of Hull City, Stoke City and especially Wigan Athletic All three played for Dave Whelan’s side at one time or another, as well as fellow squad member Juan Carlos Garcia. Reasons for Irish fans to support them Who doesn’t love an underdog? We have been that puppy. If they were a TV series Highway to Heaven – they’ll need a miracle if they’re going to progress beyond the group stages in Brazil. Prediction Not a hope. Odds with Ladbrokes: 4000/1 Fancy winning free tickets to the Ladbrokes World Cup kick-off Brazilian Party in Everleigh Gardens on June 12? Click here for all you need to know.