Suarez Resigns

The Colombian former manager of Honduras Luis Suarez decided to resign from his position of coaching the Honduran national football team after his team was knocked out of the FIFA 2014 World Cup in the group stages where they failed on securing a single point. Cameroon, Australia and Honduras were the 3 teams that had to exit the tournament without picking up a victory or a draw.

Honduras was pitted with France, Ecuador and lastly Switzerland with all of those matches ending in a defeat and in an eventual elimination from the World Cup.

The head coach of Honduras during that tournament was Luis Suarez after their disappointing campaign; he decided to step down and resign from his position with Hernan Medford being appointed as the next manager.

Hernan Medford signed a 1 year contract with the Honduran Football Federation which will see him being in charge of the national team during the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

However, before the start of the CONCACAF Gold Cup there is another challenge that awaits Hernan Medford which will be the Central American Cup which is going to be held in the United States and this competition serves as a Gold Cup qualifier which means that Medford has to pick up positive results in order for his team to be able to even qualify and get into the CONCACAF Gold Cup which is the one of the biggest championship’s in that region.

“I have to meet with my technical staff to determine where we are going to work with 22 or 23 players who will be called up and which ones we will be on the final list for the Central American Cup,” said Medford.

USA v Germany

Both USA and Germany should have made it to the Round of 16 in the ongoing FIFA World Cup by now. Both had won their first games comfortably and had a comparatively weaker opponent to face in the second game, but, neither could bring out its best performance and win.

USA played a draw against Portugal, while, Germany did the same against Ghana. Now, the scenario is that both of them are in need of one point to advance to the knockouts.

They would be facing each other at Arena Pernambuco on Thursday and if it’s a draw, both would be through, while, the other two teams in Group G (Ghana and Portugal) would be out. But, if one wins and the other loses, it would bring Ghana and Portugal in picture.

Ghana and Portugal have one point each in two games, while, Germany and USA have four each in as many games.

In case of a draw in Thursday’s match, Germany and USA would have 5 points each and it would be impossible for Ghana and Portugal to reach there. But, in case of a clear result, one out of Germany and USA would get stuck on 4 points and then, Ghana and Portugal would have the chance to get levelled with that team.

In normal circumstances, people would think that if both the teams need a draw, they would try to play safe and thus, a goalless draw is a possibility. But, the game between USA and Germany is going to be a bit different. The Germans are actually furious after having got only one point from that Ghana match. They are eager to get back to winning ways. So, in all likelihood, they would try to be aggressive and hand USA a humiliating defeat.

The statements made by Per Mertesacker yesterday was enough to suggest how the Germans are feeling.

Mertesacker said, “We would go out there (against USA) and try to show what we are capable of. I think it’s sort of a do-or-die match for both of us.”

So, a goalless draw is not looking like happening on Thursday. Whatever happens, it would be thrilling to watch, that’s for sure.