Chile v Switzerland: match preview

Group H
Chile v Switzerland
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: Mon June 21, 3pm BST
TV: BBC1 12pm, BBC1 HD 12pm

Switzerland will be without Philippe Senderos after he suffered suspected ankle ligament damage in the shock 1-0 win over Spain but do have record goalscorer Alex Frei available again. The expectation, however, is that Frei will start from the bench while midfielder Valon Behrami is also still a doubt.

Chile have rather better injury news, with striker Humberto Suazo expected to return to the team after missing the 1-0 win over Honduras. Suazo was the top scorer in the entire South American qualifying campaign with 10 goals. Either team could clinch their place in the last 16 with victory, a feat Switzerland have achieved just twice since 1966 and Chile just once since 1974.

Key clash

Gelson Fernandes v Mauricio Isla

The duel down Switzerland’s left flank should be critical to the final outcome. Mauricio Isla switched to full-back after beginning his career as a striker and it was clear from the way he created the winning goal against Honduras that those attacking instincts remain intact. Fernandes scored the historical goal that sealed Switzerland’s win over Spain but spent most of the match defending and he will have to be particularly mindful of Isla’s threat.


Talking Tactics

Switzerland produced a tactical master-class in first frustrating Spain and then punishing them on the counter-attack to secure the most unlikely of wins last Wednesday. The challenge against Chile, however, is completely different and they must now show that they have the quality to play on the front-foot and take the game to their opponents.

Touchline duel

Ottmar Hitzfeld v Marcelo Bielsa

Bielsa went by the nickname “madman” as a player and, during six years as Argentina manager, won Olympic gold and finished runners-up in the 2004 Copa America. However, he also oversaw Argentina’s failure to qualify from the group stages of the World Cup in 2002 for the only time since 1970. Hitzfeld is well established as one of Europe’s most formidable managers and is one of only three men to have won the Champions League with the two different clubs.

Ottmar Hitzfeld: "We have to play with a cool head and not give Chile chances. If we lose our heads, we don't stand a chance. Mentally, the game against Chile will be more difficult than our first game. We'll now go into the Chile match with resolve and a great deal of self-confidence."

Marcelo Bielsa: "The objective is to pass to the next round and start writing new records. If the group is decided on goal difference then we will rue the chances we missed against Honduras. We could have scored more goals and we were on top."

Switzerland (4-4-2) 1 Benaglio; 2 Lichtsteiner, 5 Van Bergen, 13 Grichting, 17 Ziegler; 7 Barnetta, 8 Inler, 6 Huggel, 16 Fernandes; 20 Derdiyok, 10 Nkufu

Subs: 12 Wolfli, 21 Leoni, 22 Eggimann, 11 Behrami, 15 Yakin, 20 Schwegler, 23 Shaqiri, 18 Banjaku, 14 Padalino, 3 Magnin, 9 Frei

Chile (3-3-1-3): 1 Bravo; 4 Isla, 8 Vidal, 3 Ponce; 20 Millar, 6 Carmona, 17 Medel; 14 Fernandez; 15 Beausejour, 9 Suazo, 7 Sanchez Subs: 12 Pinto, 23 Marin, 2 Fuentes, 5 Contreras, 13 Estrada, 19 Fierro, 21 Tello, 11 Gonzalez, 16 Orellana, 22 Paredes, 18 Jara, 10 Valdivia

Previous meetings

Played 3: Chile 1, Draws 1, Switzerland 1

1960: (Berne, friendly): Switzerland 4 Chile 2

1962: (Santiago, WC): Chile 3 Switzerland 1

2007: (Vienna, friendly): Switzerland 2 Chile 1

Fact: Switzerland have never beaten a South American side in the finals. They drew 2-2 with Brazil in 1950 but have since lost to Chile, Argentina and Colombia.

Prediction: Chile too strong for the one of the poorer sides in South Africa. A triumph for South America