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Jerry Palacios joins 2 brothers in Honduras squad

JOHANNESBURG - Jerry Palacios joined his two brothers in the Honduras squad at the World Cup on Friday, replacing injured midfielder Julio Cesar de Leon.

It’s the first time a World Cup squad contains three siblings, with Palacios joining Wilson and Johnny. De Leon left the tournament because of a right leg injury.

“I didn’t expect it,” Johnny Palacios said. “I only give thanks to God, and at the same time I feel bad that ‘Rambo’ (de Leon) got injured and I hope that he recovers as soon as possible.”

Palacios added that “it’s a dream” to be on the national team and it’s a “blessing to be here with my brothers,” who are all midfielders. He also said he could play immediately if needed and took part in his first training session Friday.

A fourth brother, Edwin Rene Palacios, was kidnapped and murdered in 2007. The kidnappers killed him after the family had paid a $500,000 ransom. Edwin was the youngest of the footballing brothers and played briefly for Honduras’ under-23 team and the under-17s. Their father, Eulogio Palacios, was also a footballer.

There have been numerous occasions where two brothers, including Ivory Coast’s Kolo and Yaya Toure at this tournament, have been in the same World Cup team. In the 1998 World Cup, brothers Tore-Andre and Jostein Flo were in the same Norway team as their cousin, Harvard.

Honduras faces Spain next in Group H on Monday at Ellis Park.