Chile faces Honduras in its opening Group H match Wednesday on the 48th anniversary of its last World Cup victory with a golden opportunity to rid itself of an unwanted record. It was on June 16, 1962, that the host beat Yugoslavia in the third-place playoff in Santiago. Chile has since been to four World Cups, played 13 matches and failed to win again. The current generation of Chilean players come to South Africa determined to put that record straight, and its form in the qualifying campaign suggests it can do far more than simply win one match at these Finals. It finished second in the South American group, just a point behind Brazil and five points ahead of Argentina. It also scored a hatful of goals, and start as favorite to beat a Honduras side missing one, and perhaps two, key strikers. “The fact that Chile haven't won a match at a World Cup for a long time, for me personally, and I think for the team as a whole, is of secondary importance,” Chile defender Gonzalo Jara said Monday. “Obviously, we know (about the record) but the first match is fundamental, above all to see how we are and to get the three points. Whether we win 3-0 or 1-0 it's the same. “Getting the three points and playing like we want to play, that's the important thing,” he added. Coach Marcelo Bielsa is waiting on the fitness of his leading striker Humberto Suazo, who beat the likes of Brazil's Luis Fabiano and Uruguay's Diego Forlan to finish as South America's top scorer in the qualifiers with 10 goals. Suazo is recovering from a hamstring injury and has been training at the team base near Nelspruit. But the coach might decide to rest him anyway for a match Chile will fancy its chances of winning. If he does, Esteban Paredes is set to start in the center of a three-pronged attack. Honduras is also waiting on an injury to striker David Suazo, who plays his football in Italy with Genoa. He picked up a knock in a warmup match against Romania on June 5 and is struggling to recover. If he cannot play, Walter Martinez could partner Carlos Pavon up front. Suazo's injury is the latest blow to a Honduras side appearing in only its second World Cup following its debut in 1982. On the eve of the Finals, its leading striker Carlos Costly broke his foot, ruling him out altogether. “The team is not at its best right now but they'll kick off the tournament with everything they've got,” said coach Reinaldo Rueda. Since beating neighbors El Salvador 1-0 last October to secure a place in the Finals Honduras has only won two games out of eight, its last victory coming in January. In contrast, Chile has lost only one of its World Cup warmup matches this year, 1-0 to Mexico in May. After Wednesday's clash, Chile and Honduras face Spain and Switzerland in their other group matches.
