Road to World Cup – Group H

Spain

Most of the players who played a part in Euro 2008 success are playing in the World Cup.

And finally we have a look at the favorites for this World Cup. Though they are currently ranked at number 2 behind Brazil, they are on paper a much better team than Brazil. Surprisingly this team, like Netherlands, has never won a World Cup. At least Netherlands have been runners-up, but Spain has never even reached a final and their best was a fourth place finish back in 1960. They did win the Euro Championship in 2008, their first trophy since Euro 1964. They did suffer a shock defeat against USA in last year’s Confederations Cup semi-finals, but Those mistakes wont be repeated. The current squad is the best Spain has ever had in years and this could very well be the World Cup they had been waiting for. Their coach Vicente del Bosque had a great time at Real Madrid winning two Champions League titles. He succeeded Luis Aragones, the man who guided Spain to Euro 2008 success. del Bosque is surely the right man to take up this job. He should have had a tough time to select the 23 man sqaud for the World Cup. There are so many talented players, some of whom he had to omit. And the final squad which he selected is just phenomenal. There are really not enough words to describe the kind of players they have got. The only concern is their fitness. Torres has just recovered from a knee injury and Iniesta seemed to have picked up a knock in their latest friendly against Poland.
Fernando Torres scored the winning goal in Euro 2008.
Key Players: Everyone!!!. Its so difficult to choose one over the other. But their most important players are Fernando Torres, David Villa, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, Iker Casillas.

Switzerland
This is a team that has not enjoyed much success in the recent years. However in the last World Cup, they finished above the eventual tournament runners-up France in the group stage but then lost to Ukraine in the knockout round. Their coach Ottmar Hitzfeld is an experienced coach having won Champions League title with two different teams. He did it with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. With not many talented players around, a very good coach is needed to help the team and Hitzfeld can do that job.
Key Players: Phillipe Senderos, Alexander Frei, Valon Behrami.

Chile
Chile have been performing decently at international level and have played in a World Cup seven times before. Their best performance was back in 1962 when they finished third and then they never came close to match that. Their coach Marcelo Bielsa is also nicknamed as “Madman”. Well not the kind of coach one would wish to have. He had highs and lows in his time with Chile, but then guided them to their first World Cup since 1998 and has become a fans favorite.
Key Players: Mark Gonzalez, Humberto Suazo.

Honduras
This is only their second World Cup, the only previous one was in 1982. Their coach Reinaldo Rueda is also not a very popular coach, having coached only Colombian youth teams in the past. They have got few players playing in Europe so that will help them to some extent.
Key Players: David Suazo, Wilson Palacios, Maynor Figueroa.

Everyone knows for sure that Spain will be the winners of Group H. The fight for second place wont be really close and it is more likely that Switzerland will reach the knockout round.