2010 FIFA World Cup Group H

Group H will see Spain, Chile, Switzerland and Honduras face-off against each other to get to the ‘Group of 16’ stage. Spain enjoys the privilege of being the group’s favorites, but cannot afford to take it easy with the looming possibility of the Hondurans, Chileans and the Swiss breathing down their necks. The Chileans after the Spaniards are the team most likely to have the biggest impact on the shaping up of the results of this Group. As for, Switzerland and Honduras, the two teams will definitely want to carve out a winning niche for themselves.

The Spaniards are akin to the lions of the group, they will look to hunt their way to wins over their rivals. Their road to South Africa was as good as it gets; La Roja didn’t have to search to hard to win all of their ten qualifying matches. Vicente del Bosque’s gladiators have another reason to smile – The team has never lost to the teams they will face in the group matches at South Africa. However, this still does not supply the Spanish with enough warranty to be frivolous with the competition.

Chile poses the biggest threat to the success of the roaring Spaniards. Do they have it in them to mellow down this roar? The Chileans under the mentorship of coach Marcelo Bielsa had a surreal run to South Africa and managed to finish off at a respectable second spot in their South American qualification group. The only variable that stopped them from finishing off on the top of their group was the difference of a point between them and South American heavyweights Brazil. The South American team will definitely play towards toppling Spain or at least work towards getting to the later stages of the tournament. Without the question of doubt, the ‘Chile Vs Spain’ vie will be the most looked forward match of this group.

Spanish and Chilean players to look out for in this group include Andres Iniesta (SPN), Humberto Suazo (CHI), David Villa (SPN) and Matias Fernandez (CHI).

To overthrow the ambitions of Spain and Chile, Group H contains a very strong-minded Switzerland and a comparatively inexperienced but capable Honduras. The Swiss made it to the Round of 16 at the 2006 Cup, but failed to progress any further. In South Africa, they will look to navigate their way past the group stages and create a respectable nice for themselves at the Round of 16 stage. The Swiss team boasts of a competent bunch of young talents and a thinking coach in Ottmar Hitzfield (der General). Swiss fans all over the world will hope that this unique combination of youngsters and coach propels their team to the later stages of the tournament.

Honduras makes for the team least expected to have a big role to play in the shaping up of the results of this group. The team although belonging to a country plagued with political problems found it in themselves to pull through to South Africa. This is only the Hondurans second appearance in a World Cup final; their first appearance was at the 1982 tournament at Spain. Back then the team failed to register even a single win. The Honduran team in South Africa will look to make amends for the failure of their predecessors. The team will also hope to thrive on the pyrotechnics of their veteran player Carlos Pavon and the prodigious Wilson Palacios. “If we prepare properly and get in the right frame of mind then we can definitely dream about reaching the next round,” proclaimed Reinaldo Rueda, the Honduran coach.

The schedule for the Group H matches is given below.