Switzerland has a chance to put right its dramatic failure of 2010 on Wednesday when it again faces bogey team Honduras for a place in the World Cup knock-outs.
The situation is eerily similar to four years ago, when the Swiss were in contention for the last 16 but missed out when they drew their last group game with the Central American minnows.
This time around, having scaled the FIFA rankings to a dizzying sixth place, expectations are high for Ottmar Hitzfeld’s respected side.
But confidence was hit in last week’s 5-2 rout by France. Meanwhile, Honduras broke a 32-year World Cup finals goal drought in the 2-1 loss to Ecuador.
Midfielder Blerim Dzemaili said Switzerland would be taking nothing for granted when it faces the Central Americans in steamy Manaus.
“Everyone can nurture big dreams, but first we have to do a little homework and that is to beat Honduras,” said the 28-year-old.
“We have seen that the big teams just relying on individuals are quickly eliminated, which little Switzerland can’t afford.
“We have to give our all together, like we did against France, but we also had some bad luck after they scored their early goals.”
Switzerland needed a late winner to beat Ecuador 2-1 in the first game, and then it was swamped by France before responding with two goals of its own in the final minutes.
Switzerland currently trails Ecuador on goal difference. If France beats Ecuador, Switzerland needs only a point from Honduras to qualify.
But if Ecuador wins Switzerland must better its rival’s result to advance.
Slim chance Honduras, which has not made it out of the group stage in two previous attempts, still has a slim chance of qualifying despite its 3-0 and 2-1 defeats to France and Ecuador respectively.
Los Catrachos will need an avalanche of goals against the Swiss, and hope that France beats Ecuador in Group ‘E’s other final game, to make it to the knock-outs.
But it has been buoyed by lifting its goal “curse” courtesy of striker Carlos Costly — who wasn’t even born when Honduras last scored at a World Cup.
Its previous goal was in 1982, when Costly’s father Allan represented Honduras and Eduardo Laing netted in a 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland.
“I was so happy when I scored that goal, because 32 years is a long time and a difficult barrier to overcome,” Costly, 31, told the FIFA website.
“That myth, that curse which has been hanging over us for so long, has been laid to rest now.”
