Group H preview

On paper, the final group in this year’s World Cup looks like a forgone conclusion. As reigning European Champions and second in the world rankings, Spain look certain to coast through into the last sixteen. However, the battle for second place will be one of the more intriguing fights for qualification in the tournament.

Spain
In a qualifying group which some predicted would provide an early onset hangover for the 2008 European Champions. Spain couldn’t have answered these critics more emphatically; ten wins from ten and an average of more than three goals a game outlined their status as one of the favourites to lift the Jules Rimet trophy.

They enter the tournament in unparalleled form having won their last twelve matches, and in them scoring forty goals and conceding an average of a goal a game. It is clear then that the frontline of La Furia will pose a major threat to any defence playing against them. Villa and Torres, providing the latter is fit, will be hoping to recreate their irresistible strike-partnership from the Austria-Switzerland tournament in 2008, and the Barcelona midfield machine that is Xavi and Iniesta are undoubtedly capable of feeding two of the finest strikers in the world with the finest supply in the world.

For the other teams, it gets worse; their strength in depth and strength at the back makes them more than a match for any team. At a time when England fans are bemoaning the frail nature of their team’s squad, Spain coach Vincente del Bosque has the luxury of three world-class goalkeepers (Casillas, Valdes and Reina) and the option of leaving Fabregas on the bench. With a mixture of wise old heads such as Carles Puyol, and emerging talents like Juan Manuel Mata and David Silva, it come of little surprise to think that the managers of the other thirty one teams in the tournament are hoping Spain revert to their pre-2008 form and choke early. Don’t bank on it.

Chile
The glory days of Leonel Sanchez, Marcelo Salas and Ivan Zamorano may be gone, but Chile are one team in this World Cup that should not be underestimated. After a stumbling start to their qualifying campaign, La Roja roared back to claim second place in the CONMEBOL standings, and book their place in South Africa after a twelve year absence from the World Cup.

Like Spain, Chile’s most potent weapon is their attack, which managed 32 goals in their 18 qualifying matches. Spearheaded by CONMEBOL qualifying’s top scorer Humberto Suazo (10) their attacking play will certainly keep opposition defences on their toes. However, their prospects at the other end of the pitch are not so optimistic. The 22 goals they shipped in qualifying is more than any of the other South American teams who made it to South Africa, and is something which could be ruthlessly exposed at the top level. With the fixture against Spain being their last in the group, Marcelo Bielsa’s men will surely be looking to have qualification wrapped up with victories against Honduras and Switzerland before they face the Spaniards.

Switzerland
After a draw against Israel and a loss at home to Luxembourg, qualification, even more so respectability, looked a remote prospect for the Swiss. Despite this, Schweizer Nati were able to top a group containing former European Champions Greece after an eight match unbeaten run, sealing their place in South Africa.

The fact that Switzerland are more of a dangerous prospect than two years ago is down to the appointment of Ottmar Hitzfeld as team coach. The wiley German has managed to blend the precocious talents of the likes of Tranquillo Barnetta and Eren Derdiyok with the more experienced heads of Alexander Frei, Hakan Yakin and Blaise Nkufo. In effect, this has created a team that is capable of not letting the pressure get to them, as typified by their amazing amendment to their faulty start in qualifying.

Having said that, they are not exactly a ‘comfortable’ team. They withstood a barrage of pressure from Israel in their final group game despite playing against ten men for a considerable amount of it, and only managed to scrape through automatically with a 0-0 draw securing the point they needed. Indeed, this lack of firepower may be their undoing at the top level, where especially in the knockout stages scoring is vital. For instance, I doubt many Swiss will recall fondly their exit in the 2006 World Cup, where they went out 3-0 on penalties to the Ukraine in the last sixteen, despite not conceding a goal in the entire tournament up to that point. With the likes of Spain and Chile in their group, it’s unlikely they will be afforded such a luxury this time around.

Honduras
28 years after their last World Cup appearance, in which they finished bottom of a group that was topped by Northern Ireland(!), Honduras are back in the big time. After scraping through their qualifying group, making it only thanks to a last minute USA equaliser against Costa Rica, they will undoubtedly enjoy their latest foray into world football.

Yet unlike 1982, Honduras can claim to have a presence in top-level club football. Although we may know full well the exploits of Wilson Palacios, Maynor Figueroa and Hendry Thomas here in the Premier League, Honduras can also claim to have players playing top-flight football in Italy, Belgium and Mexico. The news that Palacios, the Spurs midfield anchor, will be fit for the tournament will undoubtedly be a huge boost.

Yet the minnows face an almost impossible task to progress from their group. Although having Carlos Pavon amongst their ranks as the CONCACAF qualifying’s top goalscorer, is certainly a positive, their unpredictability remains a concern. A thumping 3-1 win at home to Mexico contrasted with dismal results against Costa Rica (a 2-0 loss) and Trinidad and Tobago (1-1). Adding to their woes, striker Carlo Costly has been ruled out of the tournament through injury. Having scored five goals in qualifying, the former Birmingham loanee will be sorely missed.

Prediction
All roads point to Spain topping the group, and mine is no different. Second place is another matter entirely, however. The obvious crunch-fixture is Chile v. Switzerland on June 21, with the winner of that being in pole-position to qualify along with Spain. Although on paper it looks like it should be too close to call, my instinct tells me that the flair and form of the Chileans will be enough to overpower the Swiss machine and clinch second place. As for Honduras, I just hope I never get them in the work’s World Cup sweepstake again.

Sean Lightbown