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The Red Hot Spaniards, already looking in good shape to rule the world, would have been absolutely thrilled when they were drawn with Chile, Honduras and Switzerland in Group H of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The European Champions have been on a rampage and an easy group gives them an excellent opportunity to set the tone for a winning campaign. Chile finished a remarkable second in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, though they still inspire little confidence. The Swiss have been erratic; producing great results while also succumbing to harrowing defeats and one as such wouldn't have too much confidence in them either. The Hondurans are ranked 90th in the world and are virtual outsiders in this group. Their presence in the last 16 could be a fairy tale looking to unfold.
Spain start as favorites for not only the group but also the whole tournament. Having suffered only one defeat under Coach Vicente Del Bosque, La Roja are easily the most feared team in the world. With one of the best forward pairings of David Villa and Fernando Torres combined with quality players in midfield in the form of Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas they are one team that promises a lot of entertainment and a lot more goals in this year's FIFA World Cup.
The battle for second place is likely to be between Chile and Switzerland. Although Honduras cannot be completely written off, they lack power in attack and would be the most likely team to finish fourth in the group. The Swiss are well organized and will keep it tight at the back and let teams come onto them . With two time UEFA Champions League winning coach Ottmar Hitzield at the helm, one could see a serious attempt made by them to qualify for round 2. Chile is a side with a plethora of young and budding players, a chunk of them coming from the side that finished 3rd in the Under-20 World Cup. Former Argentine boss Marcelo Biesla leads the team and surely they could give the Swiss a fight till the very end.Key Players:
In a star studded Spanish squad, a number of players are capable of individual moments of magic which could turn the tables in the favour of La Roja. David Villa is one player that immediately comes to mind in this line-up. The forward has been fantastic for both club and country, having notched up over a 100 domestic goals for Valencia in his 5 seasons, Villa is a menace other teams would rather avoid than confront. Chile on the other hand, would be heavily relying on the services of Udinese attacker Alexis Sanchez upfront. He is one of the most exciting talents in the world and his good performances could just be the difference between success and failure for his nation. Wilson Palacios is the star player for Honduras who will effect the battles in the middle of the park. He is strong and bossy and a good passer of the ball. He could help neutralize the presence of the likes of Xavi and Iniesta.
Head to Head
Chile and Honduras have faced each other on 5 occasions, with the Chileans winning 3 and losing 2. Spain and Switzerland probably have the most lopsided record in the whole World Cup. The two have faced off on 15 occasions and Spain has won on each occasion. The Swiss have a better head to head record against the Chileans. They have won twice and lost once against the South Americans. Honduras have never played the Swiss but they have a 1-1 stalemate against Spain to their credit. Spain has a perfect record against Chile as well, winning all 6 games.
Schedule
16/06 - Honduras vs Chile, Nelspruit - 12:30 PM (GMT) - Match Report
16/06 - Spain vs Switzerland, Durban - 03:00 PM (GMT) - Match Report
21/06 - Chile vs Switzerland, Port Elizabeth - 03:00 PM (GMT) - Match Report
21/06 - Spain vs Honduras, Johannesburg - 07:30 PM (GMT) - Match Report
25/06 - Chile vs Spain, Pretoria - 07:30 PM (GMT) - Match Report
25/06 - Switzerland vs Honduras, Bloemfontein - 07:30 PM (GMT) - Match Report
The big clash has to be Chile vs. Switzerland. Chile are ranked higher in the FIFA World Rankings but one feels that the Swiss may be a tad too strong for the Chileans.
Prediction
With quality in all areas of the pitch Spain are likely to finish as group toppers. The Swiss with their European caliber and experience should nail the 2nd qualifying spot.
Trivia
The first red card of World Cup finals was given to Carlos Caszely of Chile in 1974.
Read the team previews here: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile
File Photograph Copyright: Alfonso Jimenez
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