The Brazil vs Honduras international friendly match will take place this Saturday, November 16, 2013 (4:30 PM Pacific) at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami. Brazil is looking to try out some new players who could potentially make an appearance in the World Cup, while Honduras is going up against the five-time world champions with its best side.
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will use this match to test new Brazilian players, and give a chance to other players who hadn’t made an appearance in a while. Robinho is one of the “older” players being given an opportunity to impress the head coach, as he makes his first national team appearance since 2011. On the younger side, we have Marquinhos, who was called up for this match. Of course, several players who can be considered key starters like Neymar and Hulk, will be playing at the Sun Life Stadium as well.
Being the host for the upcoming World Cup, Brazil must prepare itself through friendly matches, given that other than last summer’s Confederations Cup (which they won), there are no other official matches for Brazil to participate in. Since the Confederations Cup, Brazil has won four out of five matches, and is hoping to add another win by the end of the match against Honduras.
Honduras is a squad that many think Brazil will simply overwhelm, but that will not be the case. Honduras has for the first time in its history qualified to back-to-back World Cups, thanks to its third place finish in the CONCACAF qualifiers, forcing Mexico to 4th and the intercontinental playoffs. Brazil will not have an easy time in Miami, as Honduras has brought in their best squad.
Unlike Scolari, Honduran Coach Luis Suares will not be using the match against Brazil to try out new players, it appears he is already set a starting squad. Against Brazil, Suares will utilize his very best players, this is his expected starting lineup:
Noel Valladares; Arnold Peralta, Víctor Bernárdez, Maynor Figueroa, Emilio Izaguirre; Boniek García, Wilson Palacios, Jorge Claros, Roger Espinoza; Jerry Bengtson and Carlo Costly.
This is the same squad that achieved Honduras’ historic qualification to the Brazil World Cup.
Brazil vs Honduras Prediction
Many news outlets have predicted Brazil will win by a three or four goal margin, but I do not think that will be the case. Yes, Brazil is arguably one of the top 5 teams in the world, but Honduras is no cupcake. Coach Luis Suares is coming into the game with the idea of making a statement, that is why he called in his best squad.
Look for Honduras to defend with 11 men, and counterattack while given the opportunity. In the end, the Brazilians will end up with a win, but it will not be by such a wide margin. The Brazil vs Honduras friendly will end in a 2-0 victory for Brazil.
Brazil vs Honduras TV Schedule
The Brazil vs Honduras match will be televised this Saturday, November 16, 2013 on beIN Sport at 4:30 PM Pacific.
