Chile, Switzerland play key group H match

Chile and Switzerland - two teams with opening 1-0 wins - meet knowing that a win for either would be as good as a ticket to the round of 16 at the World Cup.

Group H standings;World Cup statistics

Switzerland’s surprising victory over Spain — its first in 18 attempts -and Chile’s win over Honduras by the same score threw Group H wide open and left Spain, one of the title favorites, with a tougher road to the last 16.

“Nobody expected that we would beat Spain, but we did it and we have to forget this win,” said Swiss striker Blaise Nkufo. “We don’t want to talk about it anymore, just focus on the next game, next opponent.”

Midfielder Jean Beausejour, who scored Chile’s goal, said his side will have to change its focus against Switzerland for the game at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

“Honduras gave us the responsibility of trying to win the game, we were the ones looking to get a result,” Beausejour said.

“Against Switzerland, that’s going to change a bit. They’ve got a potent counterattack and it’s going to be a very even game.”

There is no question about Switzerland’s ability to defend — it has now gone 490 minutes across this World Cup and the 2006 one without conceding a goal. It was knocked out of the last tournament on penalties by Ukraine in the round of 16.

Switzerland’s attempt to keep that scoreless streak alive will be harmed by the loss of key defender Philippe Senderos, who sprained his right ankle against Spain and will also miss Switzerland’s last group match against Honduras.

Concerns over the state of the field at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium forced revised training sessions and arrival times for the teams.

FIFA officials said that the field, waterlogged from three days of rain earlier this week, held up well after Serbia’s 1-0 win over Germany on Friday. But they don’t want Chile and Switzerland to train at the stadium on Sunday.

Switzerland will train at a university ground in Port Elizabeth on Sunday afternoon. It had initially said it would hold a training session at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Chile planned to train at its Nelspruit base on Sunday before flying to Port Elizabeth on Sunday evening, less than 24 hours ahead of the Monday afternoon match.

Chile is hoping to have Humberto Suazo, the leading scorer in South American qualifying, back from a left thigh injury for the match.