SPAIN
2006 World Cup: Second Round, lost 3-1 to France; Best World Cup finish: 1950, Fourth Place; Notable wins: 1-0 over England, Group 2, July 2, 1950; qualifying record: 10-0-0 Europe Group 5
Odds to win Group: -399
Odds to win World Cup: +405
Style of play: The Spaniards excel in a compact and swift moving 4-4-2 that features a dynamic midfield headed by 2009 FIFA Club Midfielder of the Year Xavi (Barcelona).
Strengths: The team's immaculate qualifying run on the heels of a European Championship, coupled with its star-studded lineup in all three parts of the field, makes it the odds-on favorite to capture the World Cup. Strike duo Fernando Torres (Liverpool) and David Villa (Valencia) are solid, if not spectacular while goalkeeper Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) is a savvy veteran appearing in his third World Cup. Like Brazil, Spain's spare parts — Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) and Juan Mata (Valencia) to name but a few — are enough to form the nucleus of a separate World Cup entry.
Weaknesses: Spain is dogged by the reputation of wilting under heavy expectations, which stems to the team's collosal failure as 1982 World Cup hosts. European success two years ago followed by a 35-game unbeaten run should help erase those doubts, but skeptics remain. Anything less than a trip to finals will be considered a failure.
Player to watch: Plucky 22-year-old forward Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona) nabbed 22 goals in all competitions this season and will be a force off the bench should Torres or Avila falter.
CHILE
2006 World Cup: Did not qualify; Best World Cup finish: 1962 Semifinals, lost to 4-2 Brazil; Notable wins: 2-1 over Soviet Union, June 10, 1962; qualifying record: 10-3-5, second place in CONMEBOL
Odds to win Group: +558
Odds to win World Cup: +8000
Style of play: Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa has the La Roja rolling with an attack-minded 3-3-1-3 where Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon) serves as the linchpin in an attack midfield role.
Strengths: Chile's forward trio, which is led by prominent goal-poacher Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza) and flanked by winger Alexis Sanchez (Udinese) and Mark Gonzalez (CSKA Moscow) is arguably the best attacking trioka at this year's World Cup. The team had the second-highest goal tally among the prolific scoring CONMEBOL qualifying group and finished a point behind first-place Brazil. La Roja boasted an impressive 5-1-3 mark in away matches during qualification.
Weaknesses: While Chile chalked up goals, the team also surrendered 22 markers during qualification, which was the most among the five South American World Cup-bound squads. The average height among the projected three backline starters, Arturo Erasmo Vidal (5-foot-9), Waldo Ponce (5-foot-11) and Gonzalo Jara (5-foot-10), is 5-foot-10, which will give taller forwards a decided edge in the air. Suazo will reportedly miss the opening match versus Honduras due to a hamstring ailment but is expected back for the second match against Switzerland.
Player to watch: Fernandez will give La Roja an added dimension as a lethal freekick specialist in addition to being a skillful passer. The 2006 South American Player of the Year netted four goals during the team's remarkable qualifying run.
SWITZERLAND
2006 World Cup: Second Round, lost to Ukraine on PKs; Best World Cup finish: Quarterfinals in 1934, 1938 and 1954; Notable wins: 4-1 over Italy, Group 4 Playoff, June 23, 1954; qualifying record: 6-3-1 Europe Group 2
Odds to win Group: +1315
Odds to win World Cup: +35000
Style of play: Under the direction of former Bayern Munich boss Ottmar Hitzfeld, the Helvetians play a disciplined 4-4-2 with attacking midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen) at the forefront of a capable counter attack.
Strengths: The Swiss blend youth and veterans into a tactically-sound unit with a stellar back four and a dependable shot stopper in goalkeeper Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg) as well as an electrifying midfield led by Barnetta. Upfront, captain Alexander Frei (Basel) is a veteran marksman with 40 internationals goals in 75 appearances for his country.
Weaknesses: Outside of Frei, the goals dry up quick as projected strike partner Blaise Nkufo (Twente Enschede) has only seven goals in 31 national team appearances and missed Euro 2008 due to injury. The team's qualification run was hardly a breeze, having lost to lowly Luxembourg and nicking second-place Greece by a point to win Europe's Group 2.
Player to watch: Barnetta burned up the Bundesliga with his sublime handling skills and, at age 25, is part of the youth corps the Swiss are banking on.
HONDURAS
2006 World Cup: Did not qualify; Best World Cup finish: 1982, First Round exit; Notable wins: Not a win, but a 1-1 draw to Spain, 1982; qualifying record: 10-2-6
Odds to win Group: +2960
Odds to win World Cup: +250000
Style of play: The Reinaldo Rueda-coached outfit vacillates between a traditional 4-4-2 and a more offensive-minded 4-3-1-2 approach featuring Julio Cesar DeLeon (Torino) in the attacking midfield role with Carlos Pavon (Real Espana) and David Suazo (Genoa) upfront.
Strengths: Honduras has a solid core of European-based veterans in midfielder Wilson Palacios (Tottenham), left back Maynor Figueroa (Wigan) and midfielder DeLeon (Torino), which will reduce the fear factor when playing the likes of Spain, Chile and Switzerland. Pavon, who netted seven goals in nine qualifiers, is a solid talisman at age 36.
Weaknesses: Los Catrachos squeaked in by virtue of the U.S. and Costa Rica's 2-2 draw in qualifying and remained a shadow of themselves outside Honduras as five of its six losses occurred on the road. South Africa's wintry climate may not be conducive for Central Americans. The loss of striker Carlo Costly (Vaslui) to a foot injury could hurt as he scored six goals during qualifying.
Player to watch: Palacios played a key role in Tottenham's exciting Champions League qualification run with his sparkling midfield play. He will be the catalyst in the Honduran counter attack
2006 World Cup: Second Round, lost 3-1 to France; Best World Cup finish: 1950, Fourth Place; Notable wins: 1-0 over England, Group 2, July 2, 1950; qualifying record: 10-0-0 Europe Group 5
Odds to win Group: -399
Odds to win World Cup: +405
Style of play: The Spaniards excel in a compact and swift moving 4-4-2 that features a dynamic midfield headed by 2009 FIFA Club Midfielder of the Year Xavi (Barcelona).Strengths: The team's immaculate qualifying run on the heels of a European Championship, coupled with its star-studded lineup in all three parts of the field, makes it the odds-on favorite to capture the World Cup. Strike duo Fernando Torres (Liverpool) and David Villa (Valencia) are solid, if not spectacular while goalkeeper Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) is a savvy veteran appearing in his third World Cup. Like Brazil, Spain's spare parts — Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) and Juan Mata (Valencia) to name but a few — are enough to form the nucleus of a separate World Cup entry.
Weaknesses: Spain is dogged by the reputation of wilting under heavy expectations, which stems to the team's collosal failure as 1982 World Cup hosts. European success two years ago followed by a 35-game unbeaten run should help erase those doubts, but skeptics remain. Anything less than a trip to finals will be considered a failure.
Player to watch: Plucky 22-year-old forward Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona) nabbed 22 goals in all competitions this season and will be a force off the bench should Torres or Avila falter.
CHILE
2006 World Cup: Did not qualify; Best World Cup finish: 1962 Semifinals, lost to 4-2 Brazil; Notable wins: 2-1 over Soviet Union, June 10, 1962; qualifying record: 10-3-5, second place in CONMEBOL Odds to win Group: +558
Odds to win World Cup: +8000
Style of play: Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa has the La Roja rolling with an attack-minded 3-3-1-3 where Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon) serves as the linchpin in an attack midfield role.
Strengths: Chile's forward trio, which is led by prominent goal-poacher Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza) and flanked by winger Alexis Sanchez (Udinese) and Mark Gonzalez (CSKA Moscow) is arguably the best attacking trioka at this year's World Cup. The team had the second-highest goal tally among the prolific scoring CONMEBOL qualifying group and finished a point behind first-place Brazil. La Roja boasted an impressive 5-1-3 mark in away matches during qualification.
Weaknesses: While Chile chalked up goals, the team also surrendered 22 markers during qualification, which was the most among the five South American World Cup-bound squads. The average height among the projected three backline starters, Arturo Erasmo Vidal (5-foot-9), Waldo Ponce (5-foot-11) and Gonzalo Jara (5-foot-10), is 5-foot-10, which will give taller forwards a decided edge in the air. Suazo will reportedly miss the opening match versus Honduras due to a hamstring ailment but is expected back for the second match against Switzerland.
Player to watch: Fernandez will give La Roja an added dimension as a lethal freekick specialist in addition to being a skillful passer. The 2006 South American Player of the Year netted four goals during the team's remarkable qualifying run.
SWITZERLAND
2006 World Cup: Second Round, lost to Ukraine on PKs; Best World Cup finish: Quarterfinals in 1934, 1938 and 1954; Notable wins: 4-1 over Italy, Group 4 Playoff, June 23, 1954; qualifying record: 6-3-1 Europe Group 2Odds to win Group: +1315
Odds to win World Cup: +35000
Style of play: Under the direction of former Bayern Munich boss Ottmar Hitzfeld, the Helvetians play a disciplined 4-4-2 with attacking midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen) at the forefront of a capable counter attack.
Strengths: The Swiss blend youth and veterans into a tactically-sound unit with a stellar back four and a dependable shot stopper in goalkeeper Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg) as well as an electrifying midfield led by Barnetta. Upfront, captain Alexander Frei (Basel) is a veteran marksman with 40 internationals goals in 75 appearances for his country.
Weaknesses: Outside of Frei, the goals dry up quick as projected strike partner Blaise Nkufo (Twente Enschede) has only seven goals in 31 national team appearances and missed Euro 2008 due to injury. The team's qualification run was hardly a breeze, having lost to lowly Luxembourg and nicking second-place Greece by a point to win Europe's Group 2.
Player to watch: Barnetta burned up the Bundesliga with his sublime handling skills and, at age 25, is part of the youth corps the Swiss are banking on.
HONDURAS
2006 World Cup: Did not qualify; Best World Cup finish: 1982, First Round exit; Notable wins: Not a win, but a 1-1 draw to Spain, 1982; qualifying record: 10-2-6
Odds to win Group: +2960
Odds to win World Cup: +250000
Style of play: The Reinaldo Rueda-coached outfit vacillates between a traditional 4-4-2 and a more offensive-minded 4-3-1-2 approach featuring Julio Cesar DeLeon (Torino) in the attacking midfield role with Carlos Pavon (Real Espana) and David Suazo (Genoa) upfront. Strengths: Honduras has a solid core of European-based veterans in midfielder Wilson Palacios (Tottenham), left back Maynor Figueroa (Wigan) and midfielder DeLeon (Torino), which will reduce the fear factor when playing the likes of Spain, Chile and Switzerland. Pavon, who netted seven goals in nine qualifiers, is a solid talisman at age 36.
Weaknesses: Los Catrachos squeaked in by virtue of the U.S. and Costa Rica's 2-2 draw in qualifying and remained a shadow of themselves outside Honduras as five of its six losses occurred on the road. South Africa's wintry climate may not be conducive for Central Americans. The loss of striker Carlo Costly (Vaslui) to a foot injury could hurt as he scored six goals during qualifying.
Player to watch: Palacios played a key role in Tottenham's exciting Champions League qualification run with his sparkling midfield play. He will be the catalyst in the Honduran counter attack
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