Midfielder Jorge Claros (pictured) is looking forward to Honduras' World Cup qualifier at Mexico on September 6, 2013. (Photo: Mexsport)
SUNRISE, Florida – As Honduras continues to prepare for this Friday’s World Cup qualifier at Mexico, the prevailing perspective within in its Sunrise, Florida, training camp is best summarized in the words of Motagua midfielder Jorge Claros.
“We are in optimal condition and we are focusing on what we have to do,” stated Claros. “We have to worry more about ourselves and let them talk all they want. Where we have to talk is on the field and nothing more.”
The 27-year-old expressed that Honduras is confident heading into matchday seven in the CONCACAF Hexagonal, the final round of qualifying in the region for Brazil 2014.
Honduras sits fourth in the table with two wins and a draw from six games, one point behind third-place Mexico. Claros, however, made it clear that it is not the time to think of El Tri solely, the Catrachos must also focus on themselves.
“Believe in the team, believe in what can be done and I think that anything can be achieved,” he explained.
For Claros, who spent last season at Scottish club Hibernian, the fact that the Mexican roster contains naturalized players – Christian Gimenenz and Damian Alvarez -- changes nothing. The commitment of any player who pulls on the jersey of the six-time CONCACAF Gold Cup champion should never be underestimated.
“I think that it really doesn’t matter,” commented Claros. “The Mexico that we have in front of us we are going to respect until a certain point regardless if it is a Mexican or a naturalized player, I think that matters little. The player we face who wears the Mexico shirt is going to defend it as if he was born there. We are going to focus more on the match and less on the player that we are taking on that day.”
Above all, Claros realizes that Honduras needs to overcome all opponents if it wishes to return to the World Cup finals.
