Confident Swiss face Honduras hurdle
Thursday, 24 June 2010
BLOEMFONTEIN, June 23 (AFP): Giant killers Switzerland go into their final group clash needing a win against Honduras but knowing that would not guarantee them a place in the last 16 of the World Cup.
The Swiss, sunk 1-0 by Chile Monday, need to beat the bottom-placed central American side in Friday's Group H match in Bloemfontein and await the result of the Chile-Spain game to learn their fate.
Chile have a maximum six points, with Spain and Switzerland both on three points. Honduras, appearing in only their second World Cup finals, are yet to get off the mark.
Chile have a goal difference of plus two, with Spain on plus one and the Swiss on zero.
The Swiss began the tournament in South Africa in style, shocking the European champions 1-0 in their opener before slipping to defeat to Chile.
In that game they were reduced to 10 men with coach Ottmar Hitzfeld laying the blame for midfielder Valon Behrami's red card firmly at the door of Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal.
"It wasn't a red card, it wasn't even a yellow card. It was unfair of Vidal to roll around on the ground asking for the red card," he said.
"With 11 players against 11 we would have had our chances."
The Swiss, sunk 1-0 by Chile Monday, need to beat the bottom-placed central American side in Friday's Group H match in Bloemfontein and await the result of the Chile-Spain game to learn their fate.
Chile have a maximum six points, with Spain and Switzerland both on three points. Honduras, appearing in only their second World Cup finals, are yet to get off the mark.
Chile have a goal difference of plus two, with Spain on plus one and the Swiss on zero.
The Swiss began the tournament in South Africa in style, shocking the European champions 1-0 in their opener before slipping to defeat to Chile.
In that game they were reduced to 10 men with coach Ottmar Hitzfeld laying the blame for midfielder Valon Behrami's red card firmly at the door of Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal.
"It wasn't a red card, it wasn't even a yellow card. It was unfair of Vidal to roll around on the ground asking for the red card," he said.
"With 11 players against 11 we would have had our chances."