Honduras v Switzerland, Friday 25th June, 7.30pm
While all eyes will be focused on what’s happening in Pretoria, especially as it concerns one of the favourites to win the 2010 World Cup, there’s the small matter of the match taking place in Bloemfontein where the Swiss will be looking to win the match and subsequently qualify for the last sixteen. Ottmar Hitzfeld’s team are available at 4/7 (Boylesports) to win the game at the Free State Stadium although this alone might not be enough to book their place at the business end of the tournament.
If Spain beat Chile by a solitary goal (something you would think is highly possible), then the Swiss need to win by a two-goal margin against their central American opponents. That might have punters checking out the Asian Handicap prices and you can back Switzerland at 11/8 (bet365) with a -1.5 goal handicap. Alternatively, you can get 6/1 (Ladbrokes) that they win by a 2-0 scoreline and we all know that the Swiss can defend like warriors.
However, Honduras have not been thrashed by Chile or Spain and will once again look to make life difficult for their opponents. Reinaldo Rueda will be looking to return home with a victory achieved at the World Cup and he might have previously pencilled this game as the one where they are likeliest to take maximum points. You can back the Hondurans at 11/2 (Bet Fred) to land a shock win, something which would make the Spanish and Chileans dead certs to reach the last sixteen.
Hitzfeld does have a few selection headaches, with Philippe Senderos out injured and Alexander Frei also likely to miss out. Valon Behrami is suspended and the manager will almost have to play Blaise N’kufo (5/1 Ladbrokes) and Eren Derdiyok (6/1 Sky Bet) due to the fact that there are only three fit strikers available. Sporting Bet offer 10/3 that the match ends all square and one might be a little sceptical that the Swiss can change from being ultra-defensive to an attacking team.
