Honduras v Chile Spain v Switzerland South Africa v Uruguay
Wednesday, June 16
Honduras v Chile
Verdict: Honduras go into there opening game as one of the least fancied teams to win the World Cup. In contrast, Chile have high expectations after qualifying second in the South American qualifiers. Their pre-tournament results have been impressive with only a single defeat (1-0 loss to Mexico) in eight games.
I expect Chile's quick passing game and energetic running off the ball to cause Honduras a whole host of problems. Wilson Palacios, the Spurs and Honduras midfielder, was one of the most ill disciplined players at club level and also in the Concacaf qualifiers. With referee, Eddy Maillet from the Seychelles been a strict disciplinarian, I expect numerous cautions to be branded out and I don't think he will appreciate Wilson's hard nosed approach.
Pick: Palacios to be cautioned @2.50 (skybet, 7 units) Palacios cautioned in 33rd minute
Spain v Switzerland
Verdict: Since qualifying first in their qualification group including Greece and Latvia, Switzerland have lost 3 and drawn one of their pre-tournament friendlies. Spain were one of few teams to qualify from their group with a perfect record. The 2008 European Champions go into this tournament as one of the hot favorites, and rightly so.
The Swiss have been beset by injuries over the last week with the news that captain Alex Frei and Valon Behrami will miss this encounter. For a team that is not prolific in front of goal, these absentees will hurt badly. Spain have no such worries and go into this game on the back of 12 wins in a row. I struggle to see how Swiss centre-backs Grichting and Senderos will be able to cope with the pace and movement of the Spanish forwards.
Verdict: Both sides had to settle for draws in their respective first round encounters. South Africa survived a first half onslaught by the Mexicans before gaining the ascendancy in the match in the 2nd half. The Bafana Bafana got over their early match nerves and took the lead through Tshabalala before Marquez equalized for Mexico. Uruguay were less impressive in their scoreless draw against France. The South Americans were content on playing a tight, counter-attacking game, relying heavily on the pace of Forlan and Suarez to pinch a goal.
With the home side finishing the game strongly against Mexico, I expect them to continue on from where they left off against the one-dimensional Uruguayan outfit.
Picks: South Africa +0.25AH @1.90 (pinnacle, 7 units) South Africa 0 - 3 Uruguay South Africa 1x2 @3.50 (victor chandler, 2 units) South Africa 0 - 3 Uruguay
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