TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Key Honduran players Wilson Palacios and David Suazo, who picked up injuries in a 3-0 loss to Romania in a friendly, say they are feeling better.

Palacios told a Honduras televison programme yesterday that the injury appeared to be a pulled muscle in his left leg. The midfielder added: “Thank God, everything is OK.” He was taken off the pitch on a stretcher after the injury on Saturday.

Suazo told the newspaper La Prensa: “I already feel better.”

Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda said the loss to Romania brought his Central American team “back down to earth”. Honduras are winless in five straight friendlies and have not won since January when they defeated the United States 3-1 in a friendly.

Rueda told Honduran media yesterday that Romania, who did not qualify for the World Cup, were superior in almost all phases of the game in Austria. In two other friendlies in Europe, Honduras drew 2-2 with Belarus and 0-0 with Azerbaijan. Rueda, a Colombian, acknowledged there was little time for his team to regroup.

Honduras arrive Wednesday in Johannesburg and open in Group H against Chile on June 16. They also face Spain and Switzerland.