by Tom Allen
Group H reaches what is sure to be a thrilling climax on Friday and it is
very much still all to play for.
Barring a miraculous Honduras fight back, it's any two from three and
pre-tournament favourites Spain are far from assured of their place in the next
round.
The Euro 2008 winners takes on Chile knowing that a win is required and it
won't be easy, despite their wonderful array of talent.
Spain's opening 1-0 defeat to Switzerland has made life very hard indeed for
Vicente Del Bosque's men but they do still have their World Cup destiny in their
own hands and should be able to plunder the three points they need to progress.
David Villa got Spain's World Cup campaign back on track when netting a
double last time out against Honduras but, like their effort against the Swiss
in defeat, it could well have been a cricket score.
Villa's penalty miss in a 2-0 win mattered not but Spain have not looked
quite as ruthless in front of goal as tournaments past and Fernando Torres' form
is a worry.
Liverpool striker Torres looked way off the pace against the Central
Americans and, with Chile expected to offer a significantly greater test, it
could be a long afternoon for Spanish fans.
I've been really impressed with Chile so far but they too should have won
more comfortably in their opener against Honduras, a Jean Beausejour strike in a
1-0 victory proving enough, and with so much at stake this could well be a
low-scoring affair despite any number of proven goal scorers on display.
A draw will be enough for Chile to top Group H and with Brazil almost certain
to face the runners-up this is definitely a first place worth fighting for.
Spain, still battling for favouritism in the outright, are quite rightly on
the short side for this as they bid to pip Switzerland to a place in the last 16
but there's definitely value to be had elsewhere other than the Match Odds
market and the assumption that there will be goals is a false one.
In the four Group H matches these two have contested so far the pair's
matches have combined to produce just five goals and the 10/11 with VC Bet in
the unders market look generous.
Spain, and Chile for that matter, have the ability to run riot in the goal
stakes but the circumstances and past evidence in South Africa suggests this
crucial clash will feature few efforts and the selection is a confident one.
2pts Back Chile vs. Spain (Under 2.50 Goals) @ 10/11 (Victor
Chandler)
