World Cup Group H preview: Spain v Switzerland
The European champions make their World Cup bow against a Swiss team who came top of their qualifying group.
On paper, the strength of the Spanish national side will be too hot to handle for the other nations. Captained by one of the world’s top-class keepers, Iker Casillas, Spain possess players with extraordinary talent.
With a strikeforce up front to die for in Fernando Torres and David Villa, the Swiss defenders Phillipe Senderos and Stéphane Grichting will have to be on top of their game. The midfield consisting of Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabrégas and David Silva, with back-up in the form of Pedro Rodriguez, Juan Mata and Jesús Navas, are all players who sum up the style of play; keeping possession and stretching opposition players.
Having won all of their qualifying games, Vicente del Bosque’s men had patchy wins in warm-up friendlies, suggesting the team could be beaten if they don’t play at their best, which USA exposed when beating them at last year’s Confederations Cup.
Leading up to this match, Iniesta suffered a thigh injury during the 6-0 win over Poland, but he is winning the battle to get fit for this encounter, while Torres and Fabrégas have fully recovered from their respective injuries. Real Madrid full-back Sergio Ramos is eager to get the ball rolling.
“After a long period in Spain and here in South Africa we're keen to play the match and we want to show what we've been doing for a long time. It's true that the first game is important. The first game is crucial for confidence and for the mood of the players,” said Ramos.
Switzerland manager Ottmar Hitzfeld guided the nation to South Africa after they beat Greece by a point to take top spot in qualification. The three-time quarter-finalists have already suffered a huge setback with the news that captain Alexander Frei is out with an ankle injury. The man who has 40 goals in 73 appearances for his country has failed to recover in time for this match, but should be fit for the second clash against Chile. They will also be without Valon Behrami.
The West Ham man is definitely out of the match with a thigh problem, but, like Frei, hopes to be fit for the second match.
The experienced Hitzfeld has the difficult task of trying to instill belief into his team against the Spanish, although he could make it very tough for the free-flowing opposition players to score. “Spain are the European champions and had a great qualifying campaign. Everyone says they will win. So this is where we might get our opportunity. Little Switzerland could annoy the favourites. We will give everything and try to create a surprise,” said the German.
The Swiss exited the last World Cup in Germany in 2006 on penalties to Ukraine in the second round, setting a unique record, as they were the only nation to get knocked out of the tournament without conceding a goal.
Under Hitzfeld, they embarrassingly lost to Luxemburg at home in qualifying, which he described as “good” because he got a positive reaction out of his players, but after that match remained undefeated for the rest of the campaign. “We know that it is going to be a tough task, but we have chances. Spain also have weaknesses. Anything is possible in a match. If we were playing Spain over two legs, then it may be hard, but it is different over just 90 minutes,” Hitzfeld said.
The Swiss will not roll over, but will not have enough to beat the entertainers and dazzlers that are Spain.
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