How do you turn a defensively-minded
team into one that wants to score lots of goals? Especially with
record scorer Alexander Frei missing injured and Valon Behrami out
suspended? That’s the problem that’s affecting Ottmar Hitzfeld as
he looks for a way to score at least two goals against Honduras
without conceding.
After all, the central American side
kept things tight against Chile to the extent where they only lost
1-0 and they should retain that level of commitment against a Swiss
team that have tried to soak up pressure in both Group H matches.
Hitzfeld will recall Tranquillo
Barnetta and Eren Derdiyok to the team, the latter of which missed an
easy chance against Chile in the dying minutes. With Philippe
Senderos having already succumbed to injury, there are a lot of first
team players missing in action and it’s hard to change a team’s
mentality in the flick of a switch.
PREDICTION:
UNDER 2.5 GOALS @ 1.87 with bet365
Power Rating
Squad (2.5/5)
Frei apart, this is a squad without great players but which has worked very well as a team.
Squad (2/5)
Held together remarkably well in qualification but will it withstand the greater pressures of the greatest football show on earth?
Coach (5/5)
Ottmar Hitzfeld is one of the world’s great coaches but he will need all his tenacity and cunning to steer the Swiss through.
Coach (3/5)
A quiet and impressive disciplinarian who has stamped his mark on a group of players who have talent but occasionally lack cohesiveness.
Attack (2/5)
Switzerland have a better and more varied forward line than they possessed in either of their last two major tournaments but it still lacks a punch.
Attack (2.5/5)
Had they been a few years younger, Honduras might have been a very impressive forward outfit but time is beginning to take its toll.
Defence (3/5)
This is their major strength that proved itself in the 2006 tournament and recovered well after shocks against Israel and Luxembourg in qualification.
Defence (1.5/5)
A great weakness with players either out of contract, playing in the Chinese second division or in Honduras’ own, under-strength domestic league.