Before the tournament started, David Villa was asked to handicap Spain's World Cup group. The star striker picked Chile "as the danger team". Villa, who had watched the form team of South America finish second in their continent's tough 10-team group and rise 50 places in the world rankings in the process, said "They are the one team which we have played against and I think they are very compact, very competitive."
He also knew Spain would have two group games before they played Chile and, though he did not voice this directly, he had to hope that Spain would not need to beat Chile in their final group game to qualify. A loss to Switzerland in their opening match means La Roja must do just that tonight in Pretoria, though, if they are to be certain of qualification from Group H. Depending on results, there are nine possible permutations and with Switzerland favourites to beat a pointless Honduras in Bloemfontein, both Chile and Spain will be going for victory in the hope of finishing top of the group and avoiding a likely clash with Brazil at the last 16 stage.
The alternative is barely more appealing, as Portugal are likely to be the opponents for whoever wins Group H. Chile currently lead the group with six points from two games, three ahead of Spain and Switzerland. However, nothing is yet decided, with all four sides still having a chance of going through, depending on what happens in today's third and final round of group play. Chile, now ranked 18th in the world, have never beaten Spain, ranked 2nd. In their seven previous games, Spain have won six and drawn once.
Mark Gonzalez, the winger who scored Chile's goal in their victory over Switzerland, played in Spain with Real Betis, Real Sociedad and Albacete and said: "Spain are the most dangerous team in the World Cup. The fact that everyone has been surprised by their results in these two games doesn't mean they are not the same Spain as before. They are the same players. We know very well the quality and the individual ability they have, and they are perfectly capable of making life difficult for you.
"This game is going to be special, because they are playing for everything and I'm sure will have to come and attack from the start, but we will try and impose our style on the game as well. Our only objective is to win and qualify. To get three points nobody expects would be wonderful." A draw would be good enough for Chile to go through as group leaders, yet defeat could mean elimination. Marcelo Bielsa, the coach, does not even want to contemplate the prospect of bowing out of the World Cup at the first hurdle with six points.
"It's never useful in football to interpret things that are yet to come," he said. "The great attraction of football is precisely that it hardly ever confirms what you think may happen. "I don't want to think about what could happen and what we could achieve in the match [today]. We have not yet qualified and we have to fight for that qualification with the same enthusiasm with which we have participated so far."
Switzerland, meanwhile, remain confident but are still smarting from the red card for Valon Behrami. Steve Von Bergen, the defender, said: "We are angry at the moment but we are still in with a great chance, provided we beat Honduras. We were completely thrown by the red card against Chile. "We let ourselves be pressed too far back at the start, although we went out there intending to attack. It is hard work with 10 men." Honduras, on the other hand, is a side hoping to restore some pride. "We must go out to win, and dignity must emerge," said Reinaldo Rueda, the Honduras coach. "We must take into account that we still mathematically have a faint hope." Predictions are impossible, as there is everything still to play for in Group H. @Email:sports@thenational.ae
Chile (6 points, +2 goal difference) Need only a draw with Spain to go through, but a defeat leaves them at risk of being overhauled by Switzerland. Switzerland (3 points, 0 goal difference) The Swiss need to beat Honduras, with a two-goal margin of victory certain to put them through. Spain (3 points + 1 goal) Only victory will guarantee the pre-tournament favourites a place in the last 16, with a draw good enough only if Switzerland lose. Honduras (0 points, -3 goals) They need to triumph by a big margin and hope Chile do them a favour and beat Spain.
