Ladies and gentlemen, we finish our World Cup team breakdowns with the final team in Group H, the beautiful mountainous nation of Switzerland.

OFFICIAL NAMES:
German: Schweizerischer Fußballverband, SFV
French: Association Suisse de Football, ASF
Italian: Associazione Svizzera di Football, ASF
Spanish: Asociación Suiza de Fútbol ASF.



NICKNAME: Schweizer Nati

FIFA CONFEDERATION: UEFA (Europe)

FIFA CODE: SUI

HOW THEY QUALIFIED: 1st place in Group 2 of UEFA WC Qualifying

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES (INCLUDING 2010): 9

BEST WC FINISH: Quarterfinals, Switzerland 1954

WORLD CUP RECORD (MP: Wins - Draws - Losses): 26: 8W - 5D - 13L

HEAD COACH: Ottmar Hitzfeld

MOST CAPPED PLAYER (# of caps): Heinz Hermann (117)

ALL-TIME GOAL SCORING LEADER (# of goals): Alexander Frei (40)

BRIEF FOOTBALLING HISTORY:
Switzerland's best WC finish was a quarterfinal appearance in 1954 when they hosted the tournament. They were eliminated by Austria, 7-5 in the highest scoring match in World Cup history. In 2006, the Swiss became the only team in WC history to be eliminated from the tournament despite not conceding a goal. Brazil 2014 might be Switzerland's time to shine due to the success of their 2009 World Champions Under-17 side.

PLAYER TO WATCH:
Switzerland's player to watch was once described by a World Cup coach as "The best young player in Switzerland." That player is Gelson Fernandes.
(Photo via Newscom)
After signing for Manchester City, then Man City coach and current Cote D'Ivoire coach Sven-Goran Eriksson made that edict after acquiring Fernandes (pictured on the left) in 2007. The midfielder plays a more central role and his marking will be vital in Switzerland's defensive scheme.

OUTLOOK:
Switzerland is the overlooked team in this group, defensively they are the most organized of all the Group H teams. Their biggest problem will be consistent goal scoring, if they can combine their tight defense with opportunistic goal finishing, The Swiss can surprise and advance out of the group stage for a 2nd consecutive World Cup.

FINAL 23-MAN WC ROSTER:
Goalkepers: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg/Germany), Marco Wolfli (Young Boys), Johnny Leoni (FC Zurich)

Defenders: Mario Eggimann (Hannover/Germany), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre/France), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio/Italy), Ludovic Magnin (FC Zurich) Philippe Senderos (Arsenal/England), Steve von Bergen (Hertha Berlin/Germany), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria/Italy)

Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen/Germany), Valon Behrami (West Ham/England), Gelson Fernandes (Saint-Etienne/France), Benjamin Huggel (Basel), Gokhan Inler (Udinese/Italy), Marco Padalino (Sampdoria/Italy), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt/Germany), Xherdan Shaqiri (Basel)

Forwards: Albert Bunjaku (Nuremberg/Germany), Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen/Germany), Alexander Frei (Basel), Blaise Nkufo (FC Twente/Netherlands), Hakan Yakin (Luzern)

WC GROUP SCHEDULE:
June 16 vs. Spain
June 21 vs. Chile
June 25 vs. Honduras

Ladies and gentlemen that concludes our breakdowns of the 32 teams conpeting the 2010 World Cup. This will be a special tournament so sit back, relax, and enjoy the greatest sporting event on the planet.

Keep coming to Simplyfutbol.com to get the best info and viewpoints about football and The World Cup.

Switzerland - WC Team Breakdown

With The Great Tournament less than a week away, the excitement is here and we are nearly finished with the World Cup team breakdowns. We turn our attention to the defending European champions, Spain.

OFFICIAL NAME: Real Federación Española de Fútbol



NICKNAME: La Furia Roja

FIFA CONFEDERATION: UEFA (Europe)

FIFA CODE: ESP

HOW THEY QUALIFIED: 1st place in Group 5 of WC Qualifying

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES (INCLUDING 2010): 13

BEST WC FINISH: 4th place, Brazil 1950

WORLD CUP RECORD (MP: Wins - Draws - Losses): 49: 22W - 12D - 15L

HEAD COACH: Vicente del Bosque

MOST CAPPED PLAYER (# of caps): Andoni Zubizarreta (126)

ALL-TIME GOAL SCORING LEADER (# of goals): Raúl (44)

BRIEF FOOTBALLING HISTORY:
Spain is the 2nd greatest footballing nation never to win a World Cup. Spain has one of the Top 3 leagues in the world, La Liga and continually produces great players. The 2-time European champions have severely underachieved on the World Cup stage. Spain has a European title and an Olympic Gold medal but no Jules Rimet trophy.

PLAYER TO WATCH:
Spain's player to watch has battled injuries over the past two years but when he is on the pitch his club and national teams are unbeatable. He is Andres Iniesta.
(Content © 2010 ZumaPress)
Andres Iniesta is arguably Barcelona's and Spain's most valuable player. His vision and dribbling ability are second to none. Iniesta has had some injury problems but his ability to breakdown defenders, pass the ball, and maintain possession are massively important to Spain's style. Iniesta is a championship player and his health and presence on the pitch will be vital if Spain are to make history.

OUTLOOK:
Spain are one of the heavy favorites and expectations are justifiably high. Spain's impressive record 15-win streak from 2006-2009 as part of a 35 match unbeaten streak has built those expectations. The 2010 WC Spanish side is possibly the best ever put together in Spanish football history. Getting past the quarterfinals for the first time won't be enough, this might be La Furia Roja's best chance to lift the trophy.

FINAL 23-MAN WC ROSTER:
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Jose Reina (Liverpool), Victor Valdes (Barcelona)

Defenders: Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergi Busquets (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Javi Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), David Silva (Valencia), Xavi (Barcelona).

Forwards: Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Valencia), Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Juan Manuel Mata (Valencia).

WC GROUP SCHEDULE:
June 16 vs. Switzerland
June 21 vs. Honduras
June 25 vs. Chile

We finish the breakdowns of Group H and the World Cup with Switzerland.

Spain - WC Team Breakdown

The Great Tournament is less than a week away, we continue the breakdowns of Group H with the Central American nation of Honduras

OFFICIAL NAME: Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de Honduras



NICKNAME: Los Catrachos

FIFA CONFEDERATION: CONCACAF (Caribbean, Central & North America)

FIFA CODE: HON

HOW THEY QUALIFIED: 3rd place in CONCACAF Hexagonal Final Stage

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES (INCLUDING 2010): 2

BEST WC FINISH: Eliminated Group Stage, Spain 1982

WORLD CUP RECORD (MP: Wins - Draws - Losses): 3: 0W - 2D - 1L

HEAD COACH: Reinaldo Rueda

MOST CAPPED PLAYER (# of caps): Amado Guevara (134)

ALL-TIME GOAL SCORING LEADER (# of goals): Carlos Pavón (57)

BRIEF FOOTBALLING HISTORY:
Honduras are two-time CONCACAF champions, winning continental titles in 1993 and 1995. Los Catrachos stunned the football world when they finished 3rd in the 2001 Copa América. That Honduran side stunned Brazil 2-0 in the quarterfinals and beat Uruguay to claim 3rd place and claim its greatest footballing achievement to date along with qualifying for 1982 World Cup in Spain.

PLAYER TO WATCH:
Honduras' player to watch is a defensive midfielder who will have the task of marking some of the best creative talent in the tournament. He is Hendry Thomas.
(Mexsport)
The 25-year old Wigan Athletic player will have the unenviable job of neutralizing the excellent attacking midfielders that are in this group. Thomas is half of Honduras' Wigan Athletic connection, the other is defender Maynor Figueroa. Thomas is used to playing a physical style as a member of an English Premiership side. Thomas will have to be on top form for Honduras to advance out of this group.

OUTLOOK:
Honduras under Reinaldo Rueda is a scrappy side that scratches and claws its way to victories & results. Los Catrachos don't have the attacking depth to hang with Spain and Chile so they will have to be extra tight defensively. Veteran strikers David Suazo and Carlos Pavon must finish their goal scoring opportunities if Honduras hope to advance out of the group.

FINAL 23-MAN WC ROSTER:
Goalkeepers: Ricardo Canales (Motagua), Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Donis Escober (Olimpia)

Defenders: Victor Bernardez (Anderlecht/Belgium), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan/England), Boniek Garcia (Olimpia), Sergio Mendoza (Motagua), Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua), Johnny Palacios (Olimpia), Mauricio Sabillon (Hangzhou Luchen/China), Osman Chavez (Platense)

Midfielders: Edgar Alvarez (Bari/Italy), Julio Cesar de Leon (Torino/Italy), Amado Guevara (Motagua), Ramon Nunez (Olimpia), Wilson Palacios (Tottenham/England), Hendry Thomas (Wigan/England), Danilo Turcios (Olimpia)

Forwards: David Suazo (Genoa/Italy), Georgie Welcome (Motagua), Carlos Pavon (Real Espana), Walter Martinez (Marathon), Roger Espinoza (Kansas City Wizards/USA)


WC GROUP SCHEDULE:
June 16 vs. Chile
June 21 vs. Spain
June 25 vs. Switzerland

Group H breakdowns continue with Spain.

Honduras - WC Team Breakdown

The Great Tournament is less than 2 days away, lets begin the final group, Group H with the surprise team of South American qualifying, Chile.

OFFICIAL NAME: Federación de Fútbol de Chile



NICKNAME: La Roja

FIFA CONFEDERATION: CONMEBOL (South America)

FIFA CODE: CHI

HOW THEY QUALIFIED: 2nd place in CONMEBOL WC qualifying

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES (INCLUDING 2010): 8

BEST WC FINISH: 3rd Place, Chile 1962

WORLD CUP RECORD (MP: Wins - Draws - Losses): 25: 7W - 6D - 12L

HEAD COACH: Marcelo Bielsa

MOST CAPPED PLAYER (# of caps): Leonel Sánchez (84)

ALL-TIME GOAL SCORING LEADER (# of goals): Marcelo Salas (37)

BRIEF FOOTBALLING HISTORY:
The Chileans footballing history is one of close but not quite. Their best WC finish was 3rd place in 1962 when Chile hosted the tournament. La Roja have finished runners-up in the Copa America 4 times and finished 3rd place at the Copa America 5 times. This Chile side made history when they beat Argentina for the 1st time ever in CONMEBOL WC qualifying.

PLAYER TO WATCH:
The player to watch is Chile's most exciting young prospect since Marcelo Salas, this new Chilean star is Alexis Sánchez.
(REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado)
The 21-year old (pictured on the left) first started to get the football world's attention while playing for Argentine club, River Plate. He is known as "El Niño Maravilla" (The Wonder Boy) for his dribbling and playmaking skills. Sánchez is another rising star who could make a bigger name for himself if Chile advances and he plays well.

OUTLOOK:
The strength of this Chilean side is in attack. With Alexis Sánchez, Humberto Suazo, and Jorge Valdivia this team will terrorize defenses. Chile impressed in their World Cup qualifying campaign and with an excellent tactician like Marcelo Bielsa leading the team, Chile could make its deepest WC run since 1962.

FINAL 23-MAN WC ROSTER:
Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad/Spain), Miguel Pinto (Universidad de Chile), Luis Marin (Union Espanola)

Defenders: Pablo Contreras (PAOK/Greece), Ismael Fuentes (Universidad Catolica), Mauricio Isla (Udinese/Italy), Gary Medel (Boca Juniors/Argentina), Gonzalo Jara (West Bromwich/England), Waldo Ponce (Universidad Catolica), Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen/Germany)

Midfielders: Carlos Carmona (Reggina/Italy), Marco Estrada (Universidad de Chile), Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon/Portugal), Gonzalo Fierro (Flamengo/Brazil), Rodrigo Millar (Colo Colo), Rodrigo Tello (Besiktas/Turkey), Jorge Valdivia (Al-Ain/United Arab Emirates)

Strikers: Jean Beausejour (America/Mexico), Mark Gonzalez (CSKA Moscow/Russia), Fabian Orellana (Xerez/Spain), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo), Alexis Sanchez (Udinese/Italy), Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza/Spain)

WC GROUP SCHEDULE:
June 16 vs. Honduras
June 21 vs. Switzerland
June 25 vs. Spain

Group H breakdowns continue with Honduras.

Chile - WC Team Breakdown

The Chilean national team has begun working with a possible starting lineup for their first group match against Honduras on June 16th. Head coach Marcelo Bielsa worked with Claudio Bravo in goal while Waldo Ponce, Gonzalo Jara, Gary Medel, and Arturo Vidal made up the defensive line. Carlos Carmona and Rodrigo Millar were placed as the holding midfielders and Jorge Valdivia was given the playmaking responsibilities. The most interesting aspect of the lineup is that Bielsa used three strikers in Tuesday’s practice. Alexis Sanchez, Esteban Paredes, and Jean Beausejour were in charge of scoring. However, Mark Sanchez and Matias Fernandez are also fighting for a starting job.

With regards to the injuries, Humberto Suazo continues to recover from his muscle injury. Suazo has been practicing lightly, but is not expected to play until Chile’s third group match against Spain.

Bielsa and his troops set up camp in the city of Nelspruit, which is very close to the border with Mozambique. They immediately got to work after their arrival to South Africa last Sunday. ‘La Roja’ will play their last tune-up match against New Zealand on Wednesday. Chile will make their debut against Honduras next week in Nelspruit and will play Switzerland on June 21st and Spain on June 25th.

BIELSA REVEALS POSSIBLE STARTING LINEUP