It is time for the big guns with Fernando Torres, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas all scheduled to start for Spain in a match they probably need to win to qualify. Despite their victory over Honduras, manager Vicente del Bosque was disappointed by the scoreline as David Villa missed a penalty and other opportunities. “We had chances, glorious chances and should have beaten the Hondurans by many more,” he said. Torres, finally feels fit, having played 70 minutes of Spain’s 2-0 victory and said for the first time since his return, he felt 100 per cent.

Like Switzerland and Spain, Chile could exit the tournament with six points, and they, too, might be regretting their failure to score more when on top – only overcoming the Swiss 1-0 when they had a one-man advantage for over an hour. Their manager, Marcelo Bielsa, reflected that there was no point in telling his side to play for the draw because: “The great attraction of football is that it hardly ever confirms what you think is going to happen.”

The final group game will be one of the tensest because these are two seriously good sides. Spain not only need to win, they have to expect that Switzerland will beat Honduras and will have to stay ahead of them on goal difference. If they are to top the group and avoid the probability of facing Brazil in the round of 16, they need to beat Chile by three goals. The tension will be terrific. Verdict: Draw.