Preview of Group H: too easy for Spain
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Switzerland booked their place in South Africa after topping a competitive qualifying group that also included Greece, which went on to secure a place in South Africa, Latvia, and Israel. In 10 matches, they conceded only eight goals.
Their star player is striker Alexander Frei, also the captain. By the end of 2009, he had scored an outstanding 40 goals in 73 internationals. It is a record that places him in elite company.
The Swiss are coached by Ottmar Hitzfeld, who has won 18 major titles during his coaching career. Most of that time was spent coaching German giants Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
Chile enjoyed an impressive qualifying campaign for South Africa 2010, finishing second among the 10 South American teams, behind only five-time champions Brazil.
During 2009, they played 14 games, won eight of them, lost three and drew three. Those games included an outing against South Africa in Polokwane which Chile convincingly won 2-0.
During the World Cup, much will depend on a trio of former Colo-Colo players who have since moved on to top European clubs: midfielder Matias Fernandez, now with Sporting Lisbon; striker Humberto Suazo, now with Real Zaragoza; and forward Alexis Sanchez, now with Udinese.
Chile is a young team with few players having reached 30 years of age. After a strong showing in qualifying and having last made it to the World Cup in 1998, when striker Marcelo Salas led the way, Chile will have high expectations of themselves. They're a dark horse.
Honduras secured a place in South Africa by finishing third in CONCACAF qualifying behind the United States and Mexico.
2009 was a busy year for Honduras. They played 24 matches, winning 15 of them, losing eight and drawing only one.
The Hondurans have some real class up front, with Genoa forward David Suazo and the very experienced Carlos Pavon whose record by the end of 2009 stood at an astonishing 57 goals in 96 internationals. In midfield, captain Amado Guevara will be one of the most experienced players in the tournament, with over 130 caps to his name.
In their only previous visit to the World Cup finals in 1982, Honduras surprised by drawing 1-1 with Spain and eventual group winners Northern Ireland before a 1-0 loss to former Yugoslavia sent them out of the tournament. Once again, in 2010, they have a defence that concedes on average just one goal per game.
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