Spain and Chile to Progress from Group H in 2010 World Cup

Spain will be the class of Group H but Chile won’t be far behind the favorites in the final shake-up.

When you play matters
Throughout Sports Interaction’s previews of the World Cup’s 32 teams and 8 groups I have stressed the importance of schedule and nowhere will that matter more than in Group H. Honduras, despite being the worst team on paper, have a far better chance of making the knockout rounds than Switzerland because of the schedule. Getting Chile first, rather than Spain, gives Honduras a fighting chance of pulling off an upset early and staying in contention in the latter rounds of the group. Likewise for Chile this fixture is far more suitable than a clash with either of the European teams early as momentum can play a huge role in the World Cup. If, as expected, Chile beats Honduras then La Roja will enter its subsequent games against Switzerland and Spain under far less pressure.

Winning matters a lot too
While will know qualification for the knockout stages is a near certainty in this group, the European Champions will be desperate to win the group rather than slipping to second place. Topping the group would set up an Iberian derby with Portugal or a clash with Ivory Coast, for whom Didier Drogba is a big concern, depending on how Group G goes.

If you haven’t an account with Sports Interaction, open one now and we’ll bonus your first deposit by 100% up to $116!

Second place would still be good enough for a place in the second round but would almost certain mean a tie with Brazil. It’s no exaggeration to say that there is no tie Spain would wish to avoid more than an early knockout game with the five time World Cup winners. Expect Spain to play to win in all three group games when considering World Cup betting options.

The final shake-up
Expect Chile and Spain to both look to make strong starts for different reasons. With Spain looking to avoid Brazil they will want to seize control of the group early and maintain it, possibly with a substantial goal haul against Honduras. Chile’s motivations will be somewhat different. With group favorites Spain last on the schedule, La Roja will want qualification for the knockout stages secured before that game. A Spanish onslaught will undoubtedly be the order of the day in the final group game and while Chile might hold its own I still expect Spain to pull through. Outsiders Switzerland would have a much better chance of stealing one of the two places in the second round were its schedule reversed but as it stands it won’t face Honduras until the final group game, by which stage it might not matter.