Read a full match preview of the World Cup 2010 Group H game between Honduras and Chile at the Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit on Wednesday June 16 2010, kick-off 12.30 BST.

Group H
Honduras v Chile
Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-off: Wed June 16, 12.30pm BST
TV: ITV1 12pm, ITV HD 12pm

Marcelo Bielsa begins his second World Cup – he took charge of the Argentina side which fell at the Group Stage in 2002 – with doubts over the fitness of his talismanic forward Humberto Suazo, though the Chilean camp are confident the Zaragoza striker will be fit in time to face Honduras in Nelspruit.

Should Suazo not make it, he will be replaced in the central attacking role by Colo Colo’s Esteban Paredes, with Jean Beausejour and Real Madrid target Alexis Sanchez in the wide berths.

Honduras have injury concerns over their own Suazo, Genoa striker David, as well as Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios and playmaker Julio Cesar de Leon, though it is thought both will start the country’s first World Cup finals match since 1982.

Key clash

Maynor Figueroa v Alexis Sanchez: Despite impressing this season for Roberto Martinez’s Wigan, Figueroa faces an arduous task in Honduras’s opening fixture, tasked with containing the electrifying Udinese winger. Sanchez is known as “Wonderkid” in his homeland and is seen as the closest equivalent Chile has to Lionel Messi, a fact borne out by his last Serie A campaign, in which his eight goals in 26 games left such an impression that Jose Mourinho is believed to be attempting to take him to Real Madrid.

Talking tactics

Just as his Argentine side in 2002 were, Marcelo Bielsa’s Chile are an open, attacking side drawn up in an unorthodox but effective 3-3-1-3 formation, with Sanchez playing wide on the right and either Jean Beausejour or the rehabilitated, South African-born Mark Gonzalez on the opposite flank.

Honduras, though, will prove difficult to break down and dangerous on the break, while David Suazo may find he enjoys rather more space than he may have be accustomed to.

TOUCHLINE DUEL

Reinaldo Rueda v Marcelo Bielsa: Though Bielsa’s career as Argentina manager ended rather abruptly in his resignation in 2004 – despite being a given second chance after the chaos of the 2002 World Cup – his side were praised for their approach, and this Chile team live up to his reputation for producing attractive teams.

His counterpart, meanwhile, is known as the Colombian Mourinho for the motivational powers which have made Honduras a force in a region growing gradually weaker.

What they say

Reinaldo Rueda: “We have been taking stock of the injury situation. Julio Cesar de Leon is depressed because of this situation and we will see how he copes with this pain. Doctors will say what will happen now. Of course this will make a difference, we have been working well with Julio. We will have to wait for the answer we get and then make any necessary adjustments over the coming hours."
Marcelo Bielsa: "We only think about attacking. We will try to attack as much as we can. [Humberto] Suazo has that got special quality of scoring goals. I never take a risk with a player who is not fit, but that is not the case with Suazo.”

Teams

Honduras (4-4-2): 18 Valladares, 16 Sabillon, 2 Chavez, 21 Izaguirre, 3 Figueroa; 19 Turcios, 8 W Palacios, 20 Guevara, 10 Julio de Leon; 9 Pavon, 11 Suazo
Substitutes: 1 Canales (G), 22 Escober (G), 4 J Palacios, 5 Bernardez, 14 Garcia, 23 Mendoza, 6 Thomas, 7 Nunez, 13 Espinoza, 17 Alvarez, 12 Welcome, 15 Martinez
Chile (3-3-1-3): 1 Bravo, 8 Vidal, 18 Jara, 3 Ponce; 20 Millar, 6 Carmona, 17 Medel; 14 Fernandez; 15 Beausejour, 9 Suazo, 7 Sanchez.
Substitutes: 12 Pinto (G), 23 Marin (G), 2 Fuentes, 4 Isla, 5 Contreras, 10 Valdivia, 13 Estrada, 19 Fierro, 21 Tello, 11 Gonzalez, 16 Orellana, 22 Paredes
Referee: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles)

Previous meetings

Played 5: Honduras 2, Draws 0, Chile 3

1997: (Santiago, friendly): Chile 3 Honduras 2
2000: (Santiago, friendly): Chile 5 Honduras 2
2001: (San Pedro Sula, friendly): Honduras 3 Chile 1
2003: (San Pedro Sula, friendly): Honduras 1 Chile 2
2009: (Fort Lauderdale, friendly): Honduras 2 Chile 0

Fact: Chile have failed to win in their last 13 matches in the World Cup finals. Their last success was in 1962 when, as hosts, they beat Yugoslavia to claim third place.

Prediction: Chile impressed in qualifying, finishing second to Brazil, and they face a Honduras side without a win in three previous final appearances. Chile to win.