Socceroos safe off field
No dangers for team in Honduras
FOOTBALL: The Socceroos have had no safety concerns in Honduras despite the publication of the squad’s hotel and training times.
Hondurans have expressed their disappointment at their country being branded in Australia as hostile and dangerous ahead of Saturday’s World Cup qualifying playoff first leg.
A report suggesting the Socceroos were going to be “hounded by local fans” after the leaking of the squad’s itinerary particularly incensed the public and the nation’s football federation.
A constant line of questioning from local media has been on why Australians think Honduras is dangerous, and if the squad, fans and travelling press have been made to feel welcome.
Socceroos staff insisted the squad was safe as they prepared for Saturday’s match at Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano.
“We are absolutely confident that the integrity of our planning in terms of our operations, logistics, and safety has not been compromised,” a Football Federation Australia spokesman said
“Our team’s preparations are continuing as normal.
“The support that we have been getting on the ground has allowed the team to operate in an effective manner.”
Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan (pictured) was pleasantly surprised by how welcoming the Hondurans had been.
“The treatment has been fantastic since we got here,” he said.
“(There’s) plenty of security here helping us out. Going by on the bus yesterday people were waving at us from the street.
“I spoke to a couple of guards here and I said ‘Obviously you’re going to be supporting Honduras’ and they said ‘Nah, for these things, it’s those who deserve it get to go there’ which took me by surprise.
“There seems to be a relaxed atmosphere here.”
But there’s no doubt the Socceroos will encounter an intimidating environment in what will be a 40,000-strong packed house on Saturday.
Honduras striker Anthony “Choco” Lozano told La Prensa newspaper that his team could not allow Australia to leave “alive from Olimpico”.
“We must take advantage of the local conditions … we will give everything,” Lozano said.
The same newspaper asked Lozano’s teammate Romell Quioto if the Hondurans would “roast kangaroo” on Saturday.
Quioto said the match was a matter of “life and death” for Honduras.