Pressure Grows for CONCACAF World Cup Hopefuls
Guatemala coach Ramon Maradiaga believes his players were too individualistic in Saturday's 5-0 drubbing by Costa Rica and urged them not to repeat their mistakes intomorrow's qualifier against Honduras.
The meeting is crunch match for the two neighbours who both made flying starts to Group B in the second stage of the CONCACAF zone World Cup qualifiers but have faltered as the group has gone on.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica are coming up fast on the rails after winning their last two games and travel to Canada in optimistic mood -- but missing three key players.
Guatemala, who have never qualified for a World Cup, still lead with seven points but are only one ahead of Costa Rica and Honduras with two matches each to play.
Canada have two points but could still haul themselves back into contention if they win their game in Vancouver. The top two qualify for next year's final round.
Guatemala were unbeaten in 11 games before a Paulo Wanchope hat-trick brought them down with a bump on the Saprissa stadium's artificial pitch last Saturday.
"The players have to understand that they cannot win games on their own," said Maradiaga, a former Honduras international affectionately known as "The Primitive".
"Each one wanted the win the game on his own....It was a tough lesson and we have to learn from it in the best possible way."
Los Angeles Galaxy striker Carlos Ruiz, returns after suspension for a match which will be played before a 26,000 sellout crowd at the Mateo Flores stadium.
Honduras, whose only World Cup appearance was in 1982, began with a 5-2 win in Costa Rica but have drawn their last three games and failed to beat Canada in San Pedro Sula on Saturday.
"There are still six points to play off and it's in our own hands," said Mexican-based striker Carlos Pavon.
Costa Rican striker Rolando Fonseca and midfielders Harold Wallace and Walter Centeno -- all members of the team which played at the 2002 World Cup -- wil miss the trip to Canada.
Fonseca, their alltime leading scorer with 42 goals, has a thigh strain, Centeno is suspended and Wallace cannot leave the country because of a legal case involving maintenance costs.
"I could have settled the situation by Tuesday but the boss (coach Jorge Luis Pinto) said that would be too late," said Wallace.
The United States, who lead Group A with eight points, could clinch their place in next year's final stage at home to Panama.
The Panamanians, meanwhile, are neck and neck on five points with Jamaica, who take on bottom-placed El Salvador in Kingston.
In other matches tomorrow, Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago, who both look certain to progress from Group C and have nine points each, eet
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