The Central American country’s high murder rate and hostile fans has been the main focus of press attention since Honduras was confirmed as Australia's next opponents on the road to Russia 2018.

Former Socceroos coach Holger Osieck described Honduras as a jungle with “mosquitoes everywhere”’ including “in the food”, and complained about the noise of people “drumming and trumpeting" outside his hotel when he was there as Canada coach.

But Paz laughed off the reports in the Australian media and said some of the stories about Honduras were way off.

“It offends in a way but when you don’t know a country, you can write anything you can find on the internet,” he said.

“I was amazed the quotes from the [former] Australian coach Holger Osieck that managed Canada who said Honduras ‘was in the jungle’.

"I don’t know what part of Honduras or Central America he has been to, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know our country.

“Never has a rival player been hurt in the country. There are some tales about teams that visited Honduras in the 1980s and early 1990s but now you can find hotels like the Hotel Intercontinental and the Hilton.

"There is no way a regular fan can get into a hotel, and you won’t hear anything from the streets, it's far away from the roads.

 “Maybe we could give Osieck a plane ticket to get him back and he’ll have another impression.”

 Australia appear set to bypass Honduras hostility by staying in Miami and flying in just before kick off to emulate how the Socceroos prepared for the Uruguay play-off in 2005 and dodge the home fans.

And while the Socceroos  have nothing to fear off the field, Paz said it would be a different story when Australia run on to the Olympic Stadium San Pedro Sula.

 “The hotels are safe and a big percentage of the city is secured by the police so there will be no problem for the Australian team over here,” he said.

“But of course, players will have to know in the game that there will be hostility because the fans are going to be really, really into the game because the passion is great from the Honduran fans.

“In sporting terms they have plenty to fear.”

Paz added, "There will be maximum security for the Australian team when they come.

"When Mexico and USA come over here there has never been an incident and there won’t be an incident with Australia coming here either.

 “Maybe you might get a selfie, maybe you might get a smile, but they don’t throw things at the players and they don’t taunt the players. There is a lot of respect for the rivals.

“But I repeat, in the game, it’s another story. The fans will defend their country and they will be backing up Honduras the whole time. You can expect a lot passion in the game.”

While Australia should be wary of the Honduran threat, Paz admitted the Central Americans would prefer not to face the Socceroos in the two-legged play-off.

“We wanted to play Syria as we know that Australia has a Masters in these types of games and has vast experience in World Cups,” he said.

“We know Australia is a tough team, we saw the last game against Syria and it’s going be real difficult for Honduras to get to the World Cup.

"Australia has a lot of European team characteristics. The size of the players, the experience of some of your players that play in big leagues.

"That’s going to be an important factor to take into account during the game.”

FourFourTwo insider’s lowdown of the Socceroos Intercontinental play-off against Honduras continues tomorrow with Diego Paz, the Editor-in-Chief of Honduran National Newspaper Diario Diez providing more insight into Los Catrachos’s main threats and the expected first team 11 plus much more!

Photos: Diario Diez