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Sports

Small, but not violent: Honduras coach defends team on eve of France clash

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Luis Fernando Suarez, head coach of Honduras' soccer team, left, talks with an assistant during a training session at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Saturday, June 14, 2014. Honduras will play in E group of the Brazil 2014 World Cup. (AP Photo/David Vincent) (The Associated Press)

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    Luis Fernando Suarez, head coach of Honduras' soccer team, gestures on the pitch during a training session at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Saturday, June 14, 2014. Honduras will play in E group of the Brazil 2014 World Cup. (AP Photo/David Vincent) (The Associated Press)

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – Honduras coach Luis Suarez says his team may be an outsider, even "the Cinderella of its group", but he rejects any suggestion it plays dirty.

Suarez made the comments ahead of his team's World Cup opener against France on Sunday.

Honduras played a bruising pre-tournament friendly against England littered with fouls, one of which saw defender Brayan Beckeles sent off.

Suarez says that "we want to win, but certainly can't be called violent."

Earlier, French coach Didier Deschamps said the team was "combative" but "I certainly don't want to limit this team to just being aggressive fighters."

Honduras failed to score in South Africa in 2010, just its second World Cup, and will need a strong start to boost its slim hopes of getting out of Group E.