World Cup Group H preview: Chile v Spain
It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
European champions Spain were supposed to ease through this group, sweeping aside both Switzerland and Honduras before they entered their final game against the attacking Chileans, when they could probably afford to get a draw and still finish top. It didn’t happen.
That opening game defeat to the Swiss didn’t just shock the world; it shocked the Spanish to their very core.
But they responded, and Monday’s 2-0 win over Honduras restored some order to their campaign. True, it should have been six or seven, but at least it was a win, and at least it got operation “let’s prove we’re the best team in the world” back on track.
David Villa scored both goals at Ellis Park, the first one a contender for goal of the tournament, as the Spanish got back to winning ways. Villa was excellent, but the display of Spain’s other forward got plenty of tongues wagging too.
Fernando Torres missed three chances that he’d normally gobble up, and as the Liverpool forward continues to recover from yet another injury-hit season in the Premier League, all of Spain is waiting to see if their golden boy can rediscover his goalscoring instincts. Right now he needs to.
Spain are out of the World Cup if they lose or draw this game and Switzerland get any form of result against Honduras. That is the stark reality facing them, and against Chile, a positive result can’t be taken for granted.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side have quickly won over the neutrals with their free-flowing, attacking football.
That they only beat both Honduras and Switzerland 1-0 is one of the more mystifying facts of this entire tournament, as Bielsa’s side love nothing more than all-out attack.
Talents like Alexis Sánchez, Matias Fernández (suspended for this one) and Jean Beausejour have thrived in Bielsa’s bold battleplan, and Chile have easily been one of the best sides to watch at this World Cup, yet they’ve still only scored two goals, which is the only the same amount as New Zealand, and even England.
A frequent inability to pick out the right pass when attacking always seems to let them down, and seeing as they won’t get that many chances when facing the Spanish – who are, for all their excellent attacking play – a very mean defensive side too, then Bielsa will be hoping for better.
There’s no doubt that they deserve to be in the last 16 though, and so a draw will suit them here. It is Spain who have to win it, and so Spain will have to take risks.
The inclusion of Torres on a teamsheet can never be regarded as a risk, but boss Vicente Del Bosque will need to know that the cobwebs have been blown away from the shooting boots of his No. 9, and if so, then he could be the man to fire the Spanish through.
They can’t afford to underestimate the Chileans though, but the South Americans’ attacking style may just play into their hands.
Either way, it promises to be a feast for the eyes.
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