Hola Group H

3 Spanish speaking nations in this group and the famously neutral Swiss. After watching everyone else get to play Group H finally got to kick a ball in earnest on Wednesday starting with Honduras and Chile. A more one sided 1-0 will be hard to find. Chile played some delightful football and Sanchez was a problem all game for the Hondurans. Whilst having some players of note Honduras looked solid down the spine but lacking in inventive play or creative players, and out wide they got caught out if position time and time again. Chile line up in a 3-1-3-3 or similar but had width and superb movement. Valdivia found himself all kinds of space up front and Sanchez roamed either flank at will. The full backs pushed on indiscriminately and how they only created one goal remains a small mystery. Their keeper had little or nothing to do all game. Honduras looked sluggish and just that yard slower all over the park. Worth their victory and more.

Last but not least came the favourites, Furia Roja were playing Switzerland. If ever there was a mismatch this was it. Spain have a substitutes bench that would walk into most first teams across the globe, in fact Spain have left players behind that would make some first teams here. How could you look past a team containing the irrepressible Xavi Hernandez, Iker Casillas, David Villa et al. Even Pique showed great feet with the goal he scored in the CL semi-final against Inter Milan earlier this year. Indeed he almost got in on the act again creating an opportunity for himself after turning two swiss defenders with quick feet. Switzerland played magnificently, impossible to match Spain at their own game Switzerland defended with aplomp. Dropping into the box when Spain played in front of them thereby cutting out the sliderule pass or cute through ball, then as soon a the ball went out wide they pushed up too the 18 yard line, inviting the cross which they could cut out with ease, all four of their defenders towering above the diminutive Villa. Silva was wasteful in possession, Xavi and Alonso pulled the strings all day, if Xavi gave the ball away I missed it and Alonso was guilty once, twice at most. Iniesta seemed to spend a lot of time on the floor looking for free kicks, when at times a little strength could've pushed better positions.
The score at half time hadn't change from kick off but the Swiss had held their own and could be pleased with solid play. Spain still had Torres, Fabregas, Navas on the bench.

Second half started as the first did, possession was Spain's, they had 67% in the first half which would rise to just shy of 75% (74.1%) by the end of the game. In fact they dominated the stats, 12 corners, 21 shots with 5 on target, which equaled the amount Switzerland had in total. Switzerland held firm for the opening encounters and the in the 51st minute a routine long ball wasn't dealt with by either Puyol or Pique a quick ball round the corner from Nkufo to Derdiyok which bounced off his knees into the box where Casillas comes out feet first misses the ball, Fernandes is there his first shot blocked by the prostrate Pique but makes no mistake from the second. Piquee is trying to claim a foul, Casilles could easily have conceded a penalty. Totally out the blue and from here on possession is all one way, except for one incident where Derdiyok hits the post after cutting in past 2 defenders and only Casillas to beat. Torres, Navas and Pedro all come on, and certainly Navas looks far more lively than Silva did all match. Torres has a couple of half chances but did seem a little slow to pick up the pace of the game. by the 85th minute or so, Spain seemed to run out of ideas nd even 5 minutes of added time wasn't enough. The biggest upset came in the final game of round 1.

Who fancies Chile to top the group now? Certainly if Spain don't finish top then there's a strong chance of facing Brazil in the last 16, Group H es muy interesante...