World Cup Group H Breakdown
by
Dan Krier
June 11, 2010

Group H:
Spain – World Rank #2 – Odds to Win: 4-1
Switzerland – World Rank #26 – Odds to Win: 200-1
Honduras – World Rank #40 – Odds to Win: 750-1
Chile – World Rank #15 – Odds to Win: 50-1

2 teams from this group move on to the knockout stage of the World Cup.

DK’s Picks: Spain & Chile

Once again, we have a group where one team is definitely going to make it to the next stage of this competition, and then you’re not so sure.

The obvious choice is Spain, who have been winning internationally at a consistent pace for the last several years, most notably garnering the UEFA Euro Cup crown in 2008 (a 1-0 victory over Germany).

The Spanish squad is led by a bevy of marksmen, such as David Villa (who plays professionally for Barcelona and has 36 international goals in 55 career games) and Fernando Torres (who plays for Liverpool and has 23 goals in 72 career international games). Also giving them strength are midfielders Xavi (Barcelona; 8 international goals) and Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid; 7 international goals). Add in young stars like 24 year-old David Silva (Valencia; 6 international goals) and you have almost too many weapons at your disposal. Expect a lot of goals and three wins for Spain in the preliminary round.

After Spain, the second choice from this group isn’t so clear cut.

I am picking Chile due to their solid run in South American qualifying. Chile, like Paraguay, finished tied for second place in that continent’s standings, only one point behind Brazil. Humberto Suazo (who plays for Real Zaragoza in the Spanish League) is the team’s top scorer with 17 international goals, and should help add strength as well as a daunting presence to the physical Chilean side.

Switzerland could also very well move on past the first three matches, due to their respectable showing in European qualifying. The Swiss won their group (finishing one point ahead of Greece) and are appearing in their second consecutive World Cup, having won preliminary Group G in 2006 before being ousted by the Ukraine via penalty kicks in the first round of the knockout stage.

Honduras most likely won’t be moving on. They are only in South Africa thanks to a Costa Rican meltdown versus the USA on October 14, 2009, when America’s Jonathan Bornstein tied the game at the very end of stoppage time (thus allowing Honduras to take the final North American automatic bid). Have a good time, Honduras…and hold on to that Golden Ticket.

Best Game of Group H: Spain vs. Chile – June 25th

Fernando Torres

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