National Holiday Declared!

As you know, Honduras lives and breathes soccer. This weekend there was a game between The U.S. and Honduras that we watched with my friend Maria and Sigel. It was very exciting and I was conflicted who to cheer for. Although I was proud every time the U.S. scored and played well, I truly wanted Honduras to win because they work so much harder at it than the U.S. (always cheering for the underdogs!). In the end, the U.S. won - 3-2. Honduras mourned the loss. 

Last night was the HOnduras VS El Salvador game - this was Honduras's final change to qualify for the World Cup and EVERYONE had on Honduras shirts and was talking about the game. The catch was, the U.S. was playing Costa Rica at the same time and because of how the points were, Costa couldn't beat the U.S. or Honduras was out - so Honduras had to win AND the U.S. had to win in order for Honduras to go to the World Cup. Honduras had scored and was 1 up EL Salvador and in the final minutes of the U.S. game - U.S. was still down one. We were watching in Leonie and Mario and boy was the room tense. In the last MINUTE of the game U.S. scored & tied the game up!!!!! This was enough that Costa Rica was out and HOnduras was in! Watching the stadium where HOnduras was playing - wow - the Honduras side erupted - the team was crying and screaming - it was so emotional! What I thought was really cool was the whole Honduran team knelt down in the middle of the stadium and prayed - giving thanks to God for their victory and talents! wow.  The is only the second time ever that Honduras has made it to the world cup - they haven't qualified in 27 years! (which will be in South Africa in June). An hour after the game, the president declared the next day a public holiday! So even from our house we could hear the partying and fireworks. In Tegucigalpa the streets were fulling of people cheering until 4am this morning! Businesses and even banks are closed this morning as people recover from staying up all night cheering! :)

I think this news was a needed relief for the people - with all the political stuff happening everyone was looking for something happy - and here it is :)

Here is a link to a utube video of the excitement after the game: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8PAf9RrCe0&feature=player_embedded#at=138

or go to Utube.com and search for: Honduras qualifies for the 2010 World Cup