Football
AAP 6y

Honduras vs. Australia: The breakdown

Australia travel to Honduras for the first leg of their Intercontinental World Cup playoff, for a place at Russia 2018. Here is everything you need to know.

Where? Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
When? Nov. 10, 4pm, (Nov.11, 9am AEDT).

HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY: Australia and Honduras have never met, and the Socceroos have never played in Central America. In 21 visits to North and South America, Australia has won just one match -- a 1-0 friendly win over USA in Orlando in 1992.

ROAD TO RUSSIA; Honduras is the last stop on a marathon 22-game path to Russia for Postecoglou's side. After this, the two teams head to Sydney for the return leg. The second match is being played at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday Nov. 15 at 8pm AEDT. If the scores are tied, after two matches, away goals count double. If they are still tied, extra time is played before a dreaded penalty shootout to end a final deadlock.

AUSTRALIA

World ranking: 43
Coach: Ange Postecoglou
Captain: Mile Jedinak

Qualifying route: Finished third in Asian qualifying Group B (5 wins, 4 draws, 1 losses) and defeated Syria in the Asian play-off.

World Cup record: Four appearances (1974, 2006, 2010, 2014).

Key man: Aaron Mooy. Whether deployed in defensive or attacking midfield, Mooy is the beating heart of the Socceroos. His dead-ball execution could be crucial.

Goal threat: Tomi Juric. Juric will lead the line for the Socceroos and, with Tim Cahill under a fitness cloud, will be relied upon to stretch the Honduran defence.

HONDURAS

World ranking: 69
Coach: Jorge Luis Pinto
Captain: Maynor Figueroa

Qualifying route: Finished fourth in the final North/Central American group of six teams (3 wins, 4 draws, 3 losses), missing direct qualification behind Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama. World Cup record: Three appearances (1982, 2010, 2014).

Key man: Emilio Izaguirre. The national team stalwart played for seven seasons at Scottish powerhouses Celtic and is a reliable figure in defence.

Goal threat: Romell Quioto. A six-time scorer in qualifying, the 25-year-old winger will run at Australia's defence all match.

^ Back to Top ^