World Cup 2010 Preview: Group H

Group H is very intriguing, with one clear cut favorite in Spain, and three potentially dangerous teams in Chile, Honduras and Switzerland.  The team previews are as follows:

Chile

The Chilean team is young and potentially dangerous. The one thing holding Marcelo Bielsa's team back may be the fact that Chile has not won a World Cup match since 1962. That streak could be easily continued or finished in South Africa.

Players To Watch

Humberto Suazo: The Zaragoza forward is Chile's top forward and will need to score goals to advance his team past the group stage.

Alexis Sanchez: Sanchez is one of the top young talents going to South Africa and could impress some big clubs and move away from Udinese.

Claudio Bravo: There are some good goal scorers in this group, especially for Spain, so Bravo will be a key to leading Chile into the knockout round.

Schedule: June 16 vs. Honduras, June 21 vs. Switzerland, June 25 vs. Spain

Switzerland

In 2006, the Swiss had an exciting run in Germany, which saw the team concede zero, yes zero, goals and losing in a shootout 3-1 to Ukraine in the second round.

If the Swiss hold continental power Spain, like they did with France in 2006, to a draw then it could be a very familiar path for Ottmar Hitzfeld's squad.

Players To Watch

Alexander Frei: Frei was injured in the last training before South Africa on Thursday. Frei will not want to miss his second straight major tournament, after being hurt in the opener of the 2008 Euros on home soil.

Tranquillo Barnetta: The Bayer Leverkeusen midfielder was named Best Young Player in Germany four years ago, and the already experienced 25 year-old will provide leadership to the young Swiss team.

Philippe Senderos: The troubled Arsenal defender has been linked with a move to Fulham, and his drop off in form has not earned him a spot in Arsene Wenger's squad for a while. Senderos will need to pick his head up and get on with the task at hand, playing good defense and advancing past the group stage.

Schedule: June 16 vs. Spain, June 21 vs. Chile, June 25 vs. Honduras

Honduras

The Honduras team features two of the Premier League's best finds in the past few years and an experienced core playing in their first cup, Honduras' second overall.

Players To Watch

Wilson Palacios: The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has impressed many in the Premier League and is the top player for coach Reinaldo Rueda on the international stage.

Maynor Figueroa: Figueroa maybe second on the list of best Honduran footballers. The Wigan Athletic defender has also impressed Premier League opponents and will be a key in the back four for Los Catrachos.

David Suazo: The Genoa forward will replace the star of qualifying, Carlos Costly (out with an injury), up front and will be looked upon to score the bulk of the goals.

Schedule: June 16 vs. Chile, June 21 vs. Spain, June 25 vs. Switzerland

Spain

La Furia Roja are one of the favorites to win the tournament after their impressive Euro 2008 win.  They are loaded with players that live for the big game and play in big games every season with their clubs.

Players To Watch

Iker Casillas: The whole Spain team is worth watching, but especially Casillas and the other two players I will mention. Casillas might be the top keeper in the world and will have the world stage to prove that.

Fernando Torres: Everyone knows by now how horrible Liverpool were this season, but Torres was not horrible. Torres will be up front with David Villa, rivaling Argentina for the best starting attack.

Xabi Alonso: The Real Madrid midfielder is highly underrated, due to the teams he has played on, and most fans look at the Spain roster and are surprised to see him there. However, Alonso is a key in midfield for Vicente del Bosque's team.

Schedule: June 16 vs. Switzerland, June 21 vs. Honduras, June 25 vs. Chile

Group Prediction

Spain has high expectations for South Africa and will coast through the group stage. Chile and Honduras have potential to be dangerous, but the Swiss are a proven side and have a strong defense.

Prediction: Spain (1st), Switzerland (2nd)