Chile v Switzerland – Match Preview

Venue – Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth
Date – Monday June 21st
Kick-Off – 15:00

                                                                                                                                                                        

 

Switzerland will play their second group H game against the highly-rated Chile, who excelled in a dominant 1-0 defeat of Honduras in their opening game. After the remarkable victory against Spain, Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side lye in a good position to qualify for the knock-out phase, but must not get carried away. This contest always appeared to be vital in the eventual make-up of the group and that fact hasn’t changed. A win for either side on Monday afternoon will place them in pole position to progress. The two teams have only met on 3 occasions, with the Swiss holding a 2-1 advantage.

Switzerland will definitely be without the injured Philippe Senderos after he was ruled out of the remaining group stage matches with the ankle injury picked up against Spain. Steve von Bergen will likely replace him as he did during the match on Wednesday. Hitzfeld may however, have a couple of interesting decisions to make if captain, Alexander Frei and midfield workhorse, Valon Behrami are fit enough to return. Both their replacements, Gelson Fernandes and Erin Derdiyok impressed against Spain and would feel hard done by if replaced. Hitzfeld was expecting his influential skipper to be available for Monday’s match, revealing, ‘We expect to have Frei with us in training on Friday’.

Chile maintained their lively, explosive attacking style of play and impressed many during their opening match victory over Honduras. They utilise their skilful and quick wonder kid, 21 year-old Alexis Sanchez down the right wing effectively and look to exert constant pressure on their opponents. Marcelo Bielsa has an injury concern for key forward Jorge Valdivia, who picked up a thigh strain during their opening game, but is expected to be fit. The one disappointment for Bielsa’s men against the Hondurans was their finishing touch, as numerous chances slipped away. They cannot afford to be wasteful against the resilient Swiss, as the Spanish found to their cost. Bielsa will stick to his unique attacking formation of 3-3-1-3 and look to break through the stubborn Swiss backline with his side’s neat, creative passing.

 

 Alexis Sanchez – Chile’s ‘Wonder kid’

Ottmar Hitzfeld has played down talk of his side being touted as favourites for the clash with Chile, and hopes to keep his players feet firmly on the ground. ‘Switzerland are not favourites, it will be Chile’, he said. He complemented the South Americans form during their qualifying campaign, saying ‘This team really impressed me. Firstly in qualifying, not many teams finish above Argentina’. The Swiss coach has high expectations of his side, even before their shock victory over Spain, but is keen to keep his players honest and respects the challenge that this Chile team will provide.

An engaging spectacle awaits as the two sides battle for leadership of Group H. The Swiss will hope to remain organised and use their counter-attacking style effectively once more, particularly looking to exploit the space awarded to their wingers if Chile shapes up with their unique formation. Chile on the other hand, will attempt to break down the Swiss barriers and continue to portray their stylish, attacking brand of football to the rest of the world.