Group H - Analysis

Teams: Spain, Chile, Switzerland, Honduras

Predicted qualifiers: Spain, Chile

Spain is definitely the best team of the group, arguably the best in the tournament. So the question here will be only whether they can become the eighth team to win the world cup. Their strength would be that they have the best players in every position, and they can change their style of playing according to different oppositions. They can attack down middle by putting in Fabregas alongside Xavi, Alonso and Iniesta. They can also attack down the flanks through Navas, Mata and Pedro. I can’t see any opposition in the group could put up a defence to resist them. Their challenges would probably start when they could face Italy in the quarter finals. The Italian solid defence and some effective counter attacks could stand a chance to do the damage against Spaniard. Should they go through, I would think they would reach the final. Personally I do feel they have the upper hand against England and Netherlands, but they could lose to Brazilian no-ball running. However I would doubt Brazil to get pass England this time. Capello’s England is much more solid this time, and I do feel Ferdinand’s injury is good news for England, as I would fancy the more stable Carragher or King to partner Terry. For the battle for another slot in the second round, Chile would overcome the Swiss. They have a great coach, who can turn am average team to a good team. The Swiss has too much of problems this time compared to 4 years ago. Senderos is shaky at the back; while Frei increasing ages and the injured Streller have weaken their attacks. Barnetta is not as good as he is compared to 4 years ago. I would fancy the more organized Chilean to won the tie with the dangerous Alexis Sanchez and Mark Gonzalez in the side. Honduras stands no chance in this group. I think this team is even weaker then Trinidad & Tobago in Germany 4 years ago.

Below are the squad lists of the teams:

SPAIN

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid/Spain), Pepe Reina (Liverpool/England), Victor Valdes (Barcelona/Spain)

Defenders: Raul Albiol (Real Madrid/Spain), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid/Spain), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal/Spain), Carlos Marchena (Valencia/Spain), Gerard Pique (Barcelona/Spain), Carles Puyol (Barcelona/Spain), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid/Spain)

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid/Spain), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona/Spain), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal/England), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona/Spain), Javi Martinez (Athletic Bilbao/Spain), David Silva (Valencia/Spain), Xavi (Barcelona/Spain)

Forwards: Jesus Navas (Sevilla/Spain), Juan Mata (Valencia/Spain), Pedro (Barcelona/Spain), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao/Spain), Fernando Torres (Liverpool/England), David Villa (Valencia/Spain)

CHILE

Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad/Spain), Miguel Pinto (Universidad de Chile/Chile), Luis Marin (Union Espanola/Chile)

Defenders: Waldo Ponce (Universidad Catolica/Chile), Gonzalo Jara (West Bromwich Albion/England), Gary Medel (Boca Juniors/Argentina), Mauricio Isla (Udinese/Italy), Pablo Contreras (PAOK Salonika/Greece), Ismael Fuentes (Universidad Catolica/Chile)

Midfielders: Marco Estrada, (Universidad de Chile/Chile), Rodrigo Millar, (Colo Colo/Chile), Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen/Germany), Carlos Carmona (Reggina/Italt), Jorge Valdivia (Al Ain/UAE), Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon/Portugal), Jean Beausejour (Club America/Mexico), Gonzalo Fierro (Flamengo/Brazil), Rodrigo Tello (Besiktas/Turkey)

Forwards: Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza/Spain), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo/Chile), Alexis Sanchez (Udinese/Italy), Fabian Orellana (Xerez/Spain), Mark Gonzalez (CSKA Moscow/Russia).

SWITZERLAND

Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (VfL Wolfsburg/Germany), Johnny Leoni (FC Zurich/Switzerland), Marco Woelfli (Young Boys Berne/Switzerland)

Defenders: Mario Eggimann (Hanover 96/Germany), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre/France), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio/Italy), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal/England), Ludovic Magnin (FC Zurich/Switzerland), Steve Von Bergen (Hertha Berlin/Germany), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria/Italy)

Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen/Germany), Valon Behrami (West Ham United/England), Gelson Fernandes (St Etienne/France), Benjamin Huggel (FC Basel/Switzerland), Marco Padalino (Sampdoria/Italy), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt/Germany), Goklan Inler (Udinese/Italy)

Forwards: Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen/Germany), Alexander Frei (FC Basel/Switzerland), Blaise Nkufo (Twente Enschede/Netherlands), Hakan Yakin (FC Luzern/Switzerland), Xherdan Shaqiri (FC Basel/Switzerland), Albert Bunjaku (Nuiernburg/Germany)

HONDURAS

Goalkeepers: Noel Valladares, Donis Escober (both Olimpia/Honduras), Ricardo Canales (Motagua/Honduras)

Defenders: Sergio Mendoza, Emilio Izaguirre (both Motagua/Honduras), Mauricio Sabillon (Hangzhou Greentown/China), Osman Chavez (Platense/Honduras), Johnny Palacios, Boniek Garcia (both Olimpia/Honduras), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan Athletic/England), Victor Bernardez (Anderlecht/Belgium)

Midfielders: Danilo Turcios, Ramon Nunez (both Olimpia/Honduras), Hendry Thomas (Wigan Athletic/England), Edgard Alvarez (Bari/Italy), Roger Espinoza (Kansas City Wizards/USA), Amado Guevara (Motagua/Honduras), Wilson Palacios (Tottenham Hotspur/England), Julio Cesar de Leon (Torino/Italy)

Forwards: Walter Martinez (Marathon/Honduras), Georgie Welcome (Motagua/Honduras), Carlos Pavon (Real Espana/Honduras), David Suazo (Genoa/Italy)

Coming-up: Countdowns and the latest news and injuries