Chile v Spain: match preview

Group H
Chile v Spain
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Kick-off: Fri June 25, 7.30pm BST
Spain must win to be sure of qualification, while a draw would only be good enough for Vicente Del Bosque’s side to reach the last 16 should Switzerland fail to beat Honduras.
The former Real Madrid manager will most likely retain faith with the side which comfortably beat Honduras, though he will hope striker Fernando Torres enjoys rather more luck in front of goal.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Chile need just a point to guarantee top spot in the group – thus avoiding a likely meeting with Brazil in the last knockout round – but the Argentine has confirmed he will send his team out to win the match

Key clash
Xavi v Mauricio Isla
The versatile Udinese midfielder is likely to be detailed with the task of containing Xavi, the Barcelona playmaker through whom so much of Spain’s play is funnelled, as well as starting off wave after wave of Chilean attacks.
Though Marcelo Bielsa insists his team will defend “only when needed,” he will know that shutting down Xavi goes a long way to shutting down the European champions.
Talking tactics
Both managers have vowed to remain true to their principles and attack from the off, and both should be believed. Vicente Del Bosque, of course, knows that his team have to win if they are to be certain of qualification, while Bielsa, his counterpart, believes attempting to curb the instincts he has imbued in his side ever since taking the job would be counterproductive.
Touchline duel
Vicente Del Bosque v Marcelo Bielsa: The two managers who will encounter each other on the Loftus Versfeld touchline are cut from the same cloth; serious, uncomfortable in the spotlight and devotees of attacking philosophies.
The difference, perhaps, lies in the success they have enjoyed. Del Bosque won the Champions League and Spanish title while at Real Madrid – though it was not enough to avoid being dismissed – while Bielsa has come to regard himself as “a collector of failures”.
What they said
Marcelo Bielsa: “Everyone likes to watch and take part in games with lots of goals, lots of chances and lots of attacking play. These things, while golden, are not always the same as winning.”
Xavi: “Of course there is a lot of pressure on this game. It is a match we have to win, but we have a very clear idea of how we want to play and we will stick with that. It is that which we thought would win the tournament for us and so we will keep doing it.”
Teams
Spain (4-3-3): 1 Casillas; 15 Sergio Ramos, 5 Puyol, 3 Pique, 11 Capdevila; 8 Xavi, 14 Alonso, 16 Busquets; 22 Jesus Navas, 9 Torres, 7 David Villa
Substitutes: 12 Valdes (G), 23 Reina (G), 2 Albiol, 4 Marchena, 17 Arbeloa, 6 Iniesta, 10 Fabregas, 20 Javi Martinez, 21 Silva, 13 Mata, 18 Pedro, 19 Llorente
Chile (3-3-1-3): 1 Brav; 8 Vidal, 18 Jara, 3 Ponce; 19 Fierro, 4 Isla, 17 Medel; 10 Valdivia; 15 Beausejour, 9 Suazo, 7 Sanchez
Substitutes: 12 Pinto (G), 23 Marin (G), 2 Fuentes, 5 Contreras, 13 Estrada, 20 Millar, 21 Tello, 11 Gonzalez, 16 Orellana, 22 Paredes
Referee: TBC.
Previous meetings
None
Fact: Spain are unbeaten in their last four games against South American opposition.
Prediction: The Spaniards will find it tough against Chile but should be strong enough for a win.