Spain, one of the tournament's co-favorites, finally makes its South Africa 2010 debut, facing Switzerland in today's 10:00 a.m. Eastern start. That is one of two matches on Wednesday from Group H, the final quartet to begin play in this year's World Cup.
Today also sees Group A start its second round, with hosts South Africa taking on a Uruguay team that looks to make some changes to the very conservative approach employed last Friday. South Africa will try to continue pulling from their home pitch advantage as each side looks to distinguish themselves in a tight Group A.
Wednesday's three matches in World Cup 2010:
Team Data Cards
Courtesy of SB Nation Soccer, Jeremiah Oshan and Sounder at Heart, Team Data Cards have been prepared to give you all the information you need to know on the country, qualifying route, roster, and formation.
Here is ...
- Honduras and Chile
- Spain and Switzerland
- South Africa and Uruguay
Honduras versus Chile, Nelspruit, 7:00 a.m. Eastern, ESPN
Where They Stand: The tournament opener for each, Chile and Honduras are expected to compete with Switzerland for the place along side Spain as Group H's representatives in the knockout stage. Marcelo Bielsa has been tinkering with Chile's formation, threatening to move away from his trademark 3-3-1-3 to a four-man back line, presumedly in preparation for Spain (third match of group) and a possible match with Brazil in the Round of 16. Honduras's concerns are much more basic, with Rambo de Leon out of the tournament and Wilson Palacios, David Suazo dealing with injury concerns over the last two weeks.
Player To Watch, Chile: Even if center forward Humberto Suazo moves from injury doubt (thigh) to the starter, right wing Alexis Sanchez will play an important role. Without Suazo, the burden falls upon Sanchez to be Bielsa's main goal scoring threat. With him, the right side will play slightly more open. Sanchez can be expected to take advantage.
Player To Watch, Honduras: Injuries to Carlos Costly (out of the tournament) and David Suazo mean the nearly 37-year-old Carlos Pavón will be leaned-upon as the Catarachos main scoring option. With three difficult group stage matches to be played over the next ten days, maintaining Pavón and maximizing his usefulness will be important to Honduras's success.
Prediction: Honduras is a strong team with talent in defensive players to deal with Chile's approach. However, against similarly styled teams in CONMEBOL qualifying (Ecuador), Chile had good results. Though Humberto Suazo likely does not play, Chile could still have enough to get a Chile 1, Honduras 0 result.
Spain versus Switzerland, Durban, 10:00 a.m. Eastern, ESPN
Where They Stand: Spain is favored to roll through Group H, and having lost only once in the last three years, they seem a good bet for nine points. Switzerland will play to win, but in the back of their mind they have to keep this thought: In a group where three similarly matched teams mean a tie after three rounds is slightly more likely, goal difference against Spain could end up being the difference between a group stage exit and the knockout rounds.
Player To Watch, Spain: David Villa is Spain's leading goal scoring threat, and with striker partner Fernando Torres relegated to the bench as he recovers from knee surgery, Villa will have his own stage to further the idea that he is the world's best striker.
Player To Watch, Switzerland: Udinese central midfielder Gokhan Inter gets the unenviable task to breaking-up the midfield play of Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta. While he may lack a step in comparison to those players, his presence battling Spain's two playmakers needs to be a key cog in Switzerland's plans for the Spanish.
Prediction: Spain will be itching for their debut, having seen the rest of the teams already play. They get their quest for a first world title off to a strong start and post something like a Spain 3, Switzerland 0. The quality gap between the two sides is too large, and Spain has torn through similarly skilled sides over the last three years.
South Africa versus Uruguay, Pretoria, 2:30 p.m. Eastern, ESPN
Where They Stand: The first chance for teams to play a second match, South Africa and Uruguay come into the match on a point, part of a four-way tie in Group A. South Africa has gotten Mexico out of the way, while Uruguay had previously played France. Uruguay will have midfielder Nicolas Lodiero suspended.
Player To Watch, Uruguay: Diego Forlán always garners the spotlight for Uruguay, but as Oscar Tabárez considers adding another attacker to the starting XI, with rumors of Edinson Cavani starting along side Luis Suárez in front of Forlán. It's a change of approach for an Uruguay team that played so conservatively against France, but Forlán's ability to drop behind the line and play a deeper role enables Tabárez to get more aggressive against the hosts.
Player To Watch, South Africa: Captain Aaron Mokoena will be responsible for dealing with Uruguay's attacking talent, and coming off a match where his mistake enabled Mexico's late equalizer, the central defender will need an improved performance.
Prediction: In a tournament where each match has stayed close, neither of these sides have the combination of quality and approach to distinguish themselves from the other. South Africa 1, Uruguay 1, where Uruguay's attacking talent finds a goal despite South Africa being the stronger team in the middle of the pitch.