TEAM NEWS
Switzerland will be without defender Philippe Senderos, who injured his right ankle against Spain. But striker and captain Alexander Frei and midfielder Valon Behrami, who both missed the opener with injury, should be available.
Chile striker Humberto Suazo is expected to return from a hamstring injury to lead a three-man attack. Playmaker Jorge Valdivia is thought to be fit, despite his wife telling Chilean television that he had suffered a torn muscle against Honduras.
One booking from suspension: Carmona, Fernandez (Chile); Grichting, Ziegler, Benaglio, Yakin (Switzerland).
MATCH PREVIEW
A red-hot Chile side meet a Swiss team on a roll at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Monday, knowing a victory for either side would put them on the verge of the last 16.
Both sides are still basking in the glory of historic performances in their opening Group H fixtures. Switzerland's stunning victory over pre-tournament favourites Spain was the shock of the tournament so far. Ottmar Hitzfeld's side were considered little more than cannon fodder before the game, but carried out their coach's orders to perfection and took their chance when it when it came, something Spain were unable to do.
Hitzfeld, the former Champions League winning coach of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, was quick to point out before the opening game that all the pressure was on Spain and he has employed the same tactic this week: "Switzerland are not favourites, it will be Chile," he said. "They really impressed me. Firstly in qualifying. Not many teams end up finishing above Argentina. Against Honduras, the Chileans were unbelievable and they could have won 3-0 or 4-0 instead of 1-0. They are a solid unit, with very fast players."
Chile enjoyed their own moment of history when they recorded their first World Cup victory in 48 years with that 1-0 win over Honduras in Nelspruit. Marcelo Bielsa's side impressed with an attacking display, but should have scored more and their challenge in Port Elizabeth will be to break down a tight Swiss defence and a packed midfield and avoid falling into the same trap as Spain. Chile's cause will be boosted by the likely return of leading striker Humberto Suazo, the top South American scorer in World Cup qualifying with 10 goals.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- This will be the fourth meeting between these sides. Switzerland have won two, and Chile one. Their most recent meeting was a 2-1 victory for the Swiss in 2007.
- Their only previous World Cup encounter came in 1962 when Chile won 3-1 in Santiago.
Chile
- Marcelo Bielsa's side have won nine of their last 11 matches, including the last four.
- Chile have only once progressed beyond the World Cup group stage in six attempts outside of their own country. In 1998 they reached the last 16, when they lost 4-1 to Brazil.
- They have failed to win their last eight World Cup fixtures against European sides (five defeats and three draws).
Switzerland
- Switzerland have now kept five consecutive clean sheets at the World Cup, including four at the 2006 finals when they became the only nation ever to be knocked out of a World Cup without conceding a single goal.
- A clean sheet against Chile would set a new World Cup record. In 1990, Italy kept five consecutive clean sheets before conceding against Argentina in the semi-finals.
- The Swiss only managed 132 touches in the opposition half in their victory over Spain, fewer than any other side in the first round.
- Switzerland have never beaten a South American side at the World Cup. Four attempts have yielded just one draw (2-2 against Brazil in 1950) and three losses (3-1 to Chile in 1962, 2-0 to Argentina in 1966 and 2-0 to Colombia in 1994).
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Khalil Al Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia)
Assistants: Hassan Kamranifar (Iran), Saleh Al Marzouqi (U.A.E.)
Fourth official: Martin Vazquez (Uruguay)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_31/default.stm
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Watch out for a big Swiss bus in this one.
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the swiss will win
Calling all fans in Japan, come down and support the mighty nix in Osaka
http://www.facebook.com/WellingtonPhoenixClubMembersSupportersGroupOsaka
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enjoying this one atm
Calling all fans in Japan, come down and support the mighty nix in Osaka
http://www.facebook.com/WellingtonPhoenixClubMembersSupportersGroupOsaka
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calls are all going against chile atm
Calling all fans in Japan, come down and support the mighty nix in Osaka
http://www.facebook.com/WellingtonPhoenixClubMembersSupportersGroupOsaka
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I backed 0-0 at start of game. Would have put the bet on if i had a TAB account, $7.50 pay
What a rubbish red card. Is it me or are the referees in this tournament being a little overbearing with cards?!
Allegedly
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Hope we don't have a ref like this v Paraguay. Because they will take every chance to fall to the ground holding their face.
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Lame red card for Swiss, another 'hit the ground like a screaming pile of sh*t' lollipop dive.
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we need to get rid of this diving simulating crap
Calling all fans in Japan, come down and support the mighty nix in Osaka
http://www.facebook.com/WellingtonPhoenixClubMembersSupportersGroupOsaka
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if they really wanted too, they could just ban anyone who holds their face when they clearly didn't get hit in the face, for the rest of the tournament - will never happen though.
my other anti simulation idea that will never happen, is to make the team who are judged to be the worst offenders, to parade through the streets, behind the winners open top bus, wearing pink dresses
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its getting a bit heated now. Way too many cards. Now 8 yellows and a red after 60! Chile need to hurry up and put one in the back of the net!
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Opinion on the disallowed goal for offside?
I fail to see how any of those 3 in an offside position were interfering with play at all
Allegedly
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Opinion on the disallowed goal for offside?
I fail to see how any of those 3 in an offside position were interfering with play at all
What about the one that dummied the ball? I only saw the side view, having missed the replay from behind the goal - was he close from the keeper's perspective?
Edit: Just had this thought that I'm remembering one from a different match... feels like a very long morning this morning. It was this game right?
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funny thing is the swiss are probably still in box seat? spain will probably put a couple past chile as they need to to ensure their passage, and the swiss should beat hondorus
all 3 would be on 6 points but spain and swiss with better goal diference
all 3 would be on 6 points but spain and swiss with better goal diference
Calling all fans in Japan, come down and support the mighty nix in Osaka
http://www.facebook.com/WellingtonPhoenixClubMembersSupportersGroupOsaka
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Chile are going to give Spain a tough match. As the only team that does need to win, I'd say Chile are in a good place. Spain could find themselves out if they don't play to their potential.
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Dunno why, but I have taken a liking to Chile and hope they draw AT LEAST against Spain.
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
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Watch out for a big Swiss bus in this one.
You really don't like them huh
The Swiss played well considering they had a man less for an hour, eventually they were going to concede sooner or later and Chile created enough chances to deserve their goal.
A good win over Honduras will put them right in contention for a place in the Round of 16.
HOPP SUISSE!!!
Three for me, and two for them.
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Watched last half hour and it was horrible. So many chances but neither side could finish anything. At least 10 good opportunities, and within those 10 about half should have been goals. And who's that retarded Chilean who is consistently offside? Starts with 'P' but can't remember. A number of times Chile got the ball and he didn't even look at the defenders but ran about 3m in front of them. Embarrassing stuff.
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Esteban Paredes?
Three for me, and two for them.
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Probably Paredes. And it was 100% offside with dissalowed goal, he changed the direction of the ball, no questions here if you look on replays.
Would love to see both Chile and Spain going to next round, playing most attractive football to me in this group.
Would love to see both Chile and Spain going to next round, playing most attractive football to me in this group.
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Paredes, that's the guy. Talk about a liability. Didn't even look for the defenders. I wonder if he's genuinely unsure on the offside rule, as there are many out there who struggle with it no matter how often you explain it to them.
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Probably Paredes. And it was 100% offside with dissalowed goal, he changed the direction of the ball, no questions here if you look on replays.
Would love to see both Chile and Spain going to next round, playing most attractive football to me in this group.
Ah ok. I was extremely tired at the time,so all i saw was a shot taken that went in,then offside called.Would love to see both Chile and Spain going to next round, playing most attractive football to me in this group.
Allegedly
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