Swiss bank on offensive play against Honduras

BLOEMFONTEIN - Switzerland can secure a place in the World Cup football Round of 16 by beating Honduras Friday with a margin of at least two goals in their final Group H encounter.

That result would put the Swiss through, notwithstanding what happens in the other Group H clash between Chile and Spain.

“We have our destiny in our own hands, and this is an advantage,” said their German coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld, ahead of the game at Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium.

In contrast, Honduras, who lost both their previous matches, conceding three goals and scoring none, require something akin to a miracle to qualify for the second round.

The Latin Americans would need to score a massive victory against the Swiss, while hoping that Chile do the same against Spain.

That scenario would make Chile the group winners while second-place would be decided by goal-difference or even the drawing of lots.

Switzerland, who opened their World Cup campaign with a surprise 1-0 victory against Spain, but then lost by the same scoreline to Chile, have relied on a solid defense but have shown little initiative up front.

However, against Honduras the team would adopt a “completely different tactical set-up,” Hitzfeld said.

“I believe in my offensive players,” he added.

Switzerland’s strike-force is likely to include Twente’s Blaise Nkufo, partnered by either Basel’s Alex Frei, Bayer Leverkusen’s Eren Derdiyok, or Lucerne’s Hakan Yakin.

Doubts remain on the fitness of 31-year-old Frei, Switzerland’s all-time top scorer with 40 goals.

He did not play against Spain, but started against Chile - only to be substituted in a tactical switch prompted by Valon Behrami’s sending off.

The West Ham United midfielder is suspended for the match against Honduras, meaning that Switzerland will probably have to look to Bayer Leverkusen’s Tranquillo Barnetta to provide marauding runs down the left.

“Honduras have an offensive style of play and that is an advantage for us because it leaves us with more spaces,” Hitzfeld said.

“Their (the Hondurans) playing style is similar to Chile’s, but they don’t have the same quality individual players,” he added.

However, the coach who at club level steered Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich to Champions League titles, said the Swiss must watch out for Serie A club Genoa’s David Suazo and Honduras’ record scorer, Carlos Pavon.

“They can score goals from almost anywhere,” Hitzfeld said.