Chileans seek to avoid Swiss slip
Source: Agencies |
June 21, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE thought of Chile against Switzerland as a top-of-the-table clash in the same group as World Cup favorite Spain would have been inconceivable only a few days ago.
But both teams are in the unlikely position of joint Group H leaders after the Swiss stunned the Spaniards 1-0 and Chile beat Honduras by the same scoreline to seal its first win at a World Cup in 48 years.
Although far from a mouth-watering matchup, today's encounter has taken on added significance that might just be enough to wake sleepy Port Elizabeth from its World Cup snooze.
The defeats for Spain and Honduras, who meet later in the day in Johannesburg, mean a win for either Switzerland or Chile would give them one foot in the next round. The winning side may be able to advance with even a defeat in its final game.
Chile's last win in the finals until its victory over Honduras had come in the 3rd/4th place playoff as host in 1962. It had since qualified for the World Cup four times but failed to win any group matches.
Both sides have vowed not to get ahead of themselves and expect the match to be a physical encounter fought more in the air than on the ground.
Chile's players will try to break down a tight Swiss defense and a packed midfield and avoid falling into the same trap as Spain, which dominated their match but lost out to a goal against the run of play. "We definitely have to be careful because with very little possession the Swiss still managed to beat Spain," defender Gary Medel said.
Chile's leading striker Humberto Suazo is likely to return from a hamstring injury to lead a three-man attack. Suazo has played only 45 minutes of competitive soccer since late April and he would likely replace playmaker Jorge Valdivia.
Switzerland's coach Ottmar Hitzfeld believes his team is the underdog against Chile, a match he said would be mentally tougher than its win over Spain.
"We have to play with a cool head and not give Chile chances," he said. "If we lose our heads, we don't stand a chance."
But both teams are in the unlikely position of joint Group H leaders after the Swiss stunned the Spaniards 1-0 and Chile beat Honduras by the same scoreline to seal its first win at a World Cup in 48 years.
Although far from a mouth-watering matchup, today's encounter has taken on added significance that might just be enough to wake sleepy Port Elizabeth from its World Cup snooze.
The defeats for Spain and Honduras, who meet later in the day in Johannesburg, mean a win for either Switzerland or Chile would give them one foot in the next round. The winning side may be able to advance with even a defeat in its final game.
Chile's last win in the finals until its victory over Honduras had come in the 3rd/4th place playoff as host in 1962. It had since qualified for the World Cup four times but failed to win any group matches.
Both sides have vowed not to get ahead of themselves and expect the match to be a physical encounter fought more in the air than on the ground.
Chile's players will try to break down a tight Swiss defense and a packed midfield and avoid falling into the same trap as Spain, which dominated their match but lost out to a goal against the run of play. "We definitely have to be careful because with very little possession the Swiss still managed to beat Spain," defender Gary Medel said.
Chile's leading striker Humberto Suazo is likely to return from a hamstring injury to lead a three-man attack. Suazo has played only 45 minutes of competitive soccer since late April and he would likely replace playmaker Jorge Valdivia.
Switzerland's coach Ottmar Hitzfeld believes his team is the underdog against Chile, a match he said would be mentally tougher than its win over Spain.
"We have to play with a cool head and not give Chile chances," he said. "If we lose our heads, we don't stand a chance."
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