Rio heroics offer lesser-known footballers big-money shop window
Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Honduras goalkeeper Luis Lopez faces the biggest challenge of his career when he confronts the might of Brazil’s Neymar in a David and Goliath Olympic semi-final match-up at Rio’s Maracana on Wednesday. Having dumped Argentina out of the group stages, another monumental shock would make Lopez and his teammates national heroes by delivering a first ever Olympic medal for Honduras. Yet, there is not just national pride at stake for the Central Americans, but the prize of a life-changing move to Europe should they impress in front of a global audience and near 80,000 capacity
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Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Honduras goalkeeper Luis Lopez faces the biggest challenge of his career when he confronts the might of Brazil’s Neymar in a David and Goliath Olympic semi-final match-up at Rio’s Maracana on Wednesday.
Having dumped Argentina out of the group stages, another monumental shock would make Lopez and his teammates national heroes by delivering a first ever Olympic medal for Honduras.
Yet, there is not just national pride at stake for the Central Americans, but the prize of a life-changing move to Europe should they impress in front of a global audience and near 80,000 capacity crowd.
“The two things are related,” said Lopez, hero of Honduras’ run to the last four with a series of stellar saves in the 1-0 quarter-final win over South Korea.
“One thing is the pride to represent your country, but if you work every minute you have to help your team, to help your country, it can open doors. The opportunity intrigues me a lot.”
The contrast between the riches of the two sides that will take the field for the next step in Brazil’s quest to finally land a football Olympic gold couldn’t be starker.
As well as Neymar, whose transfer to Barcelona from Santos cost the Catalan giants over 100 million euros ($112 million), Brazil boast £27 million ($34.9 million) Manchester City new boy Gabriel Jesus and 30 million euro Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos.
Lopez, 22, plays for Real Espana in his homeland along with 16 others in the 18-man Honduras squad. Of the other two, Anthony Lozano plays in Spain’s second division with Tenerife, and Elder Torres for Real Monarchs in the third tier of US football.
Coach Jorge Luis Pinto, who led Costa Rica to the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup, has no doubt his players have shown they can make the grade at a higher level in Europe.
“What the players have shown is that they can play in Europe without a doubt,” adding that Honduran football is on the rise having also qualified for last year’s under-17 and under-20 World Cups as well as the senior side’s presence at the 2014 World Cup.
– Top-class keeper –
However, he believes Lopez could go furthest of all.
“He was special (against South Korea), extraordinary, and I told him so. Part of this is his. With a great goalkeeper we can do great things.”
Defender Johnny Palacios is hoping Lopez’s miracles could even deny Brazil.
“He’s a top-class keeper without a doubt. He was the man. He saved us and I hope he can keep doing so, for the good of the whole country.”
Lopez and Honduras aren’t the only ones making the most of their time in the spotlight.
Arsenal outcast winger Serge Gnabry admitted he is enjoying the “best weeks of his football life” as top scorer in the competition having scored six times in four games after two years dogged by injury and lack of first-team opportunities.
In contrast to most major tournaments, only Sweden and Nigeria didn’t have a squad where locally based players are in the majority.
“We wanted to play with local players,” said Algeria coach Pierre-Andre Schurrman. “I hope they have many more games like this in the future.”
Lopez meanwhile is taking the compliments in his stride: “I do feel proud and it is nice to be appreciated for what you do.”
Stop Neymar and Co. and simple appreciation could lead to a big-money deal for Honduras’ humble saviour.
The post Rio heroics offer lesser-known footballers big-money shop window appeared first on World Soccer Talk.
