FIFA World Cup Group H

Two very different games will be going on when World Cup Group H gets underway on June 16. In Durban, Switzerland versus Spain looks like a cagey affair, with the Swiss trying to stop their opponents' famed passing game and steal a goal for themselves. In Nelspruit, Honduras and Chile promise a game of Central- and South American flair. Group H is shaping up to be a tasty one.

Spain is the favorite to win the World Cup, and so will look forward to the group stage as the initial steps in a run to the final. Vicente del Bosque's side was sensational in qualifying - 10 games, 10 wins. 35 straight games were notched up without defeat between November 2006 and July 2009, when they fell to the US in the Confederations Cup. It is difficult to find a single standout star in the European champions' side - only because there are so many of them.

Carlos Puyol, Andres Iniesta and David Villa were all integral parts of the team which beat Germany in the 2008 final, as the Spanish swatted aside suggestions that, for all its talent, it couldn't perform when it mattered. Fernando Torres, the Liverpool striker, and Xavi, so integral to both Barcelona and Spain's passing game, are injury worries going into the tournament, but both should be fit. There should be no excuses if it doesn't at least come very close to the Jules Rimet trophy this summer.

Captain Iker Casillas isn't shy. "I am a Champions League winner, have won the World Club Cup and the European Championship," the goalkeeper said. "But this World Cup title would be the biggest."

Hitzfeld looks back to the Bundesliga

Switzerland is now a different proposition from the team that exited so tamely from Euro 2008, the tournament co-hosted. German coach Ottmar Hitzfeld took over the side after that failure and steered it to the top of its European qualifying group. "For me, it's a dream come true to be involved at a World Cup," the 61-year-old former math teacher said. Hitzfeld has looked back to the Bundesliga, where he coached Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich to success in past years, for a number of his key players.

47-cap defender Christoph Spycher, who until this summer played for Eintracht Frankfurt, has had to cross his name off the provisional squad list through injury, but VfL Wolfsburg's Diego Benaglio will expect to start in goal. Further forward, Leverkusen pair Tranquillo Barnetta and Eren Derdiyok are men to watch, as they look to create and finish chances respectively.

Chile knows all about scoring goals, having netted 32 of them - and conceded 22 - on its way to second place in the South American qualifying section. Even away from home, Marcelo Bielsa has consistently deployed an attacking formation, making use of adventurous wingers, to try and out-score opponents.

Chile will be appearing at its first finals for 12 years - and have to look back another 48 years before that to when it last won a match at the World Cup. Recent form has been much better though, and the South Americans have quietly risen from 47th in the world rankings in August 2007 up to 15th. Versatile Bayer Leverkusen man Arturo Vidal will be an integral part of the side.

Honduras looking to avoid homesickness

Honduras secured its place at the World Cup thanks to a goal from veteran striker Carlos Pavon in the final match day of qualifying, which saw it finish ahead of Costa Rica on goal difference. This will be just its second appearance at a World Cup, the last having come back in 1982. Reinaldo Rueda's team will have Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Wilson Palacios at its heart, and David Suazo - once a man fought over by the two Milan clubs - up front.

"Honduras plays pretty good football and has technically accomplished players," said Ottmar Hitzfeld, whose Switzerland team will take on the Central Americans on June 25. Its home form in qualifying, which included two wins over Mexico, was impressive, but tarnished by results away from home. Only two wins in nine games on the road shows Honduras doesn't travel well.

Honduras will have little to lose in Group H, while Chile will be looking to win its first game at soccer's top table since 1950. Switzerland has a coach who knows all about winning, but has yet to prove himself at the World Cup, while Spain must be feeling the pressure of being World Cup favorites. The defending European champions should progress through the group with plenty in reserve, but the battle between European solidity and American flair behind them should be close-fought.

Author: Thomas Klein / tms
Editor: Matt Hermann