World Cup Previews: Group H
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Group H
Runaway tournament favourites Spain should encounter no problems in this group. The midfield pairing of Xavi and Iniesta (with Fabregas on the bench, if needed) can play their way through any team. Up front, newly-signed Barcelona striker David Villa is only six goals off Raúl's record as Spain's all-time goalscorer. In his last three tournaments, Villa has scored three, four and three, so another few goals in South Africa should be expected. If Villa doesn't do the job, Torres can come in to replace him. Spain also have three top-class keepers in Casillas, Reina and Valdés. This is arguably the strongest squad at the World Cup. First place in this group should come easily.
Chile haven't reached the World since France in 1998 but this is a side full of talent and with a tactically astute manager in Marcelo Bielsa, who also lead the Argentinian national side for six years. Matías Fernandez, Mark Gonzalez and Alexis Sanchez are some of the attacking players to watch out for in the Chilean side but by far their biggest threat is their striker Humberto Suazo. Suazo has 18 international goals, with ten of them coming in the South American qualifiers where he finished as the leading marksman. He also had a very successful loan spell at Zaragoza at the end of last season where his goals played a key part in keeping them in La Liga. Chile's run of games should give them an advantage in the battle for second place with Switzerland, as they play Spain in the final game where Spain will probably already have qualified for the next round.
Switzerland have qualified for the last several tournaments but only impressed in 2006 where they topped their group of France, Togo and South Korea. They subsequently went out to Ukraine 3-0 on penalties after a dour 0-0. In the 2004 and 2008 European Championships, they failed dramatically, winning once in 2008, drawing once in 2004 and losing all other four games. The current squad has no really big names. The aging Hakan Yakin and Alexander Frei will be in South Africa but both players are arguably past their peak. The one bright spark for the Swiss should come in the form of Bayer Leverkusen's Tranquillo Barnetta, a creative attacking midfielder who could be the focus of their play. However, with their first game coming against Spain, it might be hard for them to recover in their next match against Chile.
Honduras are back in the World Cup after a 28-year absence. Their last and, only previous, appearance came in 1982 where they finished bottom of Group 5, having drawn with Spain and Northern Ireland, both 1-1, before losing to Yugoslavia 1-0. Only nine of the 23-man squad are based outside of Honduras. While the likes of Wilson Palacios, Maynor Figueroa and David Suazo may be the familiar names int his squad, their main threat comes from their all-time top scorer 36-year-old Carlos Pavón. With 57 goals in 100 internationals, Pavón scored seven of those in the final group stage of CONCACAF qualifying as Honduras finished in third place behind the USA and Mexico. Honduras will be lucky to get a draw with their lack of major tournament experience and players in better leagues.
Prediction
Spain
Chile
Switzerland
Honduras
Runaway tournament favourites Spain should encounter no problems in this group. The midfield pairing of Xavi and Iniesta (with Fabregas on the bench, if needed) can play their way through any team. Up front, newly-signed Barcelona striker David Villa is only six goals off Raúl's record as Spain's all-time goalscorer. In his last three tournaments, Villa has scored three, four and three, so another few goals in South Africa should be expected. If Villa doesn't do the job, Torres can come in to replace him. Spain also have three top-class keepers in Casillas, Reina and Valdés. This is arguably the strongest squad at the World Cup. First place in this group should come easily.
Chile haven't reached the World since France in 1998 but this is a side full of talent and with a tactically astute manager in Marcelo Bielsa, who also lead the Argentinian national side for six years. Matías Fernandez, Mark Gonzalez and Alexis Sanchez are some of the attacking players to watch out for in the Chilean side but by far their biggest threat is their striker Humberto Suazo. Suazo has 18 international goals, with ten of them coming in the South American qualifiers where he finished as the leading marksman. He also had a very successful loan spell at Zaragoza at the end of last season where his goals played a key part in keeping them in La Liga. Chile's run of games should give them an advantage in the battle for second place with Switzerland, as they play Spain in the final game where Spain will probably already have qualified for the next round.
Switzerland have qualified for the last several tournaments but only impressed in 2006 where they topped their group of France, Togo and South Korea. They subsequently went out to Ukraine 3-0 on penalties after a dour 0-0. In the 2004 and 2008 European Championships, they failed dramatically, winning once in 2008, drawing once in 2004 and losing all other four games. The current squad has no really big names. The aging Hakan Yakin and Alexander Frei will be in South Africa but both players are arguably past their peak. The one bright spark for the Swiss should come in the form of Bayer Leverkusen's Tranquillo Barnetta, a creative attacking midfielder who could be the focus of their play. However, with their first game coming against Spain, it might be hard for them to recover in their next match against Chile.
Honduras are back in the World Cup after a 28-year absence. Their last and, only previous, appearance came in 1982 where they finished bottom of Group 5, having drawn with Spain and Northern Ireland, both 1-1, before losing to Yugoslavia 1-0. Only nine of the 23-man squad are based outside of Honduras. While the likes of Wilson Palacios, Maynor Figueroa and David Suazo may be the familiar names int his squad, their main threat comes from their all-time top scorer 36-year-old Carlos Pavón. With 57 goals in 100 internationals, Pavón scored seven of those in the final group stage of CONCACAF qualifying as Honduras finished in third place behind the USA and Mexico. Honduras will be lucky to get a draw with their lack of major tournament experience and players in better leagues.
Prediction
Spain
Chile
Switzerland
Honduras
About Finbarr O'Sullivan
Currently working in Brazil, Finbarr will be giving his take on Brazilian football in his regular Extratime.ie column. Finbarr peviously studied in Spain and worked in the Czech Republic and had regular column pieces on … View Full Profile