Swiss ready to roll

Hitzfeld's side will squeak into the knockout stages

Last updated: 24th June 2010  

Swiss ready to roll

Frei: Swiss talisman

I would be very surprised if either side dishes out a good spanking - Honduras are not good enough and it is not in neutral Switzerland 's national psyche.

Switzerland FanZoner Andrew Harding
Quotes of the week

I am not sure the Swiss played for a draw against Chile. They sat back to defend with the intention of catching them on the break in the manner that would mirror how they beat Spain - that is their game plan.

It resembles how the Greeks play, the difference being that Switzerland have a structure and a greater cutting edge up front. Unfortunately, the Swiss game plan was undone. Valon Behrami can feel aggrieved by his sending off, and the fact it occurred 30 minutes into the game made it increasingly likely it would be a turning point. It meant the Swiss would have to defend with a man less for an hour - they did well to manage 45 minutes, before Mark Gonzalez's header ended some stern Swiss resistance.

It means that Switzerland find themselves third in Group H. Qualification is a simple equation - a win against Honduras should be enough to progress to the last 16.

In terms of the group, it is highly likely that Chile, Spain and Switzerland will all finish on 6 points, assuming Spain beat Chile and Switzerland defeat Honduras.

Explaining the goal difference hardly makes the situation less confusing, but here goes - the Swiss currently have a neutral goal difference (how appropriate!) To guarantee qualification regardless of the result in the other game, Switzerland need to beat Honduras by two clear goals. They would then equal Chile's current goal difference of positive two, which in turn would mean qualification, as if Spain beat Chile, the South Americans' goal difference would fall.

Confused? Me too. So we can concentrate on how the Swiss will beat Honduras, hopefully by two clear goals. Honduras are no mugs, but they have taken no points from their two games and have yet to trouble the scoreboard. Surely there is only one possible winner?

Defensive

I hope so, although in their two games Switzerland have only rippled the net once. Let's be clear, the Hondurans are not whipping boys and in any event Switzerland rarely get their whip out. I would be very surprised if either side dishes out a good spanking - Honduras are not good enough and it is not in neutral Switzerland 's national psyche.

I am not sure Switzerland 's style of football suits a game such as this. The Swiss need to learn the Greek lesson, and not go out with a whimper. Ottmar Hitzfeld's men would do themselves a lot of favours if they could shed their conservative and defensive style, and open up a bit more. I doubt they will, hence we can expect a tense affair.

If I was a betting man, I would back Frei and Derdiyok to score in a 2-0 win. Captain and talisman Frei should lead by example, while Derdiyok has looked dangerous and will want to make amends for that miss late on in the Chile game.

It would be a great shame if that famous victory against Spain did not contribute to qualification to the knockout stages. Although that is a possibility, I cannot see it happening.

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