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Honduras Coach José Molina: "We Must Play Well for 90 Minutes"

Honduras national team coach José Molina has underlined the importance of maintaining performance levels throughout an entire match, ahead of the side's Concacaf Nations League 2026 fixture against Jamaica.

"The things we do well, we must do for 90 minutes," Molina said, addressing what he sees as a recurring challenge in football: teams performing strongly in patches but failing to sustain that standard for the full duration of a game.

The remark reflects a broader tactical and psychological concern shared by many coaches — the difficulty of maintaining consistency when fatigue sets in, particularly during the closing stages of a match. Molina appears to be urging his squad to treat quality of play as a requirement for the entire 90 minutes, rather than something that can lapse in weaker moments.

Honduras, widely known by the nicknames 'Los Catrachos' and 'La H', currently features several players based in MLS, the United States' and Canada's top professional football league. The month has proven significant for the national team, drawing considerable attention from supporters as it competes in the Nations League.

The Concacaf Nations League serves as a key competitive platform for national sides across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, offering opportunities for qualification to larger international tournaments while raising the overall standard of regional football.

Molina's comments come at a moment when Honduras is looking to build momentum in the competition. His emphasis on endurance — both physical and mental — echoes a wider trend in modern football, where matches are frequently decided in their final stages, often due to lapses in concentration or fitness among tired players.

Whether this philosophy translates into results on the pitch remains to be seen, but Molina's public comments suggest a clear directive to his players: consistency, not just occasional brilliance, is what he expects as Honduras continues its campaign in the tournament.

Vocabulary7 words

coach
a person who trains and leads a sports team
Concacaf Nations League
a football competition for national teams in North and Central America
consistency
doing something the same good way every time
MLS
a major football league in the USA and Canada
endurance
the ability to keep going for a long time
directive
a clear instruction or order
fixture
a scheduled sports match

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Quiz

1. What main idea did Molina express about his team's performance?
2. What does the Concacaf Nations League offer participating teams?
3. True or False: Honduras is also known by the nickname 'Los Catrachos'.

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Discussion questions

  1. Why do you think teams often struggle to maintain performance for a full 90 minutes?
  2. How important is mental endurance compared to physical fitness in sports?
  3. Do you agree with Molina's approach of demanding consistency from his players? Why or why not?
  4. What effect might tournaments like the Concacaf Nations League have on the development of football in a region?

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