It is just over a fortnight now before four years of waiting comes to a climax in the highly anticipated 2010 World Cup, which sees nations from around the world battle it out from the 11th of June for the title of World Champions.
While there are still a few friendly fixtures yet to take place, and final squads still to be announced, SportsBet currently have some early market odds on offer to punters who just cannot wait for the tournament to be underway.
While head-to-head markets are always popular, the site has a huge array of options, including the top country from each confederation, the top goal scorer, group exactas and quinellas, plus many more!
Group H is the final group, and sees the current favourites to win the 2010 World Cup Spain, take to the pitch at $5 to win, while Chile, Honduras and Switzerland fill the rest of the group.
Below is an outline of all the Group H Matches making up the group stage of the 2010 World Cup.
Honduras V Chile
The Group H fixtures will kick off on the 16th of June at 4pm when Honduras and Chile start their campaign at the Mbombela Stadium.
For Honduras, the 2010 World Cup is just their second appearance in a world cup tournament, and their lack of experience will no doubt be a huge disadvantage in this group.
The South American powerhouse of Chile are returning for their eighth world cup tournament – the first since 1998.
The duo have met five times before, with Chile claiming three wins to Honduras’ two, and the latter will be looking to make it level pegging in the stats after this fixture.
It is no surprise to see Chile clear in the odds at $1.62 with their higher level of experience, while Honduras must upset the market to gain the win at $5.50.
Spain V Switzerland
On the 16th of June at 1.30pm, the Durban Stadium will see the current European champions begin their campaign to add the world championship to their silverware as they take on Switzerland.
Spain are heading into the 2010 World Cup for their 13th attempt at glory on the biggest international soccer stage, and having never finished higher than fourth place – which they did in 1950, will hope 2010 is their year.
Switzerland will be playing in their ninth world cup tournament in South Africa and having not made the quarter finals for 56 years, will hope to do so this year.
The duo have met 18 times previously with the stats falling heavily in the Spaniards way as they can claim 15 wins and three draws, while the goal difference over the fixtures is 45 to Spain and just 15 to Switzerland.
The European champions are heading into their opening fixture as favourites to claim the win at $1.33, while Switzerland are at $9.
Chile V Switzerland
Chile and Switzerland will kick off at 4pm on the 21st of June at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium for their second fixture of the tournament.
The two have met just three times before, with Switzerland securing two wins, and Chile one, with just a single goal advantage to the Europeans over the three fixtures.
The South Americans have claimed a win, a draw and a loss of late – and still have three friendlies before the tournament kicks off in order to iron out any uncertainties among the team.
Switzerland struggled in their qualifying campaign early on, however managed to gather themselves as a squad after some embarrassing results to seal a spot in the 2010 World Cup.
In what could be a close game, Chile are currently heading into the fixture as favourites at $2.20, while the Europeans are close behind at $3.
Spain V Honduras
At 8.30pm on the 21st of June, the Ellis Park Stadium will see Spain take on Honduras for their second game in the tournament.
These two nations possess the highest and lowest amount of experience in Group H, and having met just once before resulting in a 1-1 draw, will surely be an exciting match as Honduras simply have nothing to lose.
The European giants are currently at three wins from their last three matches, including a victory over a similar playing style nation to Honduras – Argentina.
Honduras on the other hand have scraped their way into the tournament, relying on a last minute equaliser between the USA and Costa Rica which saw them through.
Spain are dominating the odds at $1.17, while Honduras would have to pull out all the stops to beat the European champions and go into the game at $13.
Chile V Spain
Rounding off their group fixtures, Chile take on Spain at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on the 25th of June at 8.30pm.
The duo have met seven times before, with the results going Spain’s way every time apart from a single draw, with the Europeans scoring 18 goals to Chile’s three.
If Spain performs in South Africa the way they did during their qualification campaign, every nation they face should be wary as they dominated each match they played, and finished as the second highest scorers in the European zone.
Chile on the other hand finished second in their qualifying group, just a point behind the Brazilian side and will hope to do the same in Group H.
Once again, Spain are the favourites to claim the win at $1.62 while Chile are at $5 to beat the European champions.
Switzerland V Honduras
Rounding off the fixtures for the Group H games, the Free State Stadium will see Switzerland play Honduras on the 25th of June at 8.30pm.
The two nations have incredibly different styles of playing soccer, and as the duo have never met before could be set as a rather intense group fixture.
Switzerland have not been particularly strong as of late, with two losses and a draw making up their most recent three fixtures, although they do have two friendlies before the tournament kicks off to rectify any obvious issues.
The Central Americans secured just one win in their last three fixtures, although it was over the dominant soccer force of the USA, and still have three fixtures to their advantage before the 2010 World Cup kicks off.
The Europeans are currently favourites to claim this fixture at $1.73, while Honduras could provide a substantial payout if they succeed at $4.33.
2010 World Cup Group H Matches
No. |
Date |
Match |
Location |
Kick-Off (Local) |
Kick-Off (AEST) |
| 15 | 16.06.10 | Honduras V Chile | Mbombela Stadium | 13.30 | 21.30 |
| 16 | 16.06.10 | Spain V Switzerland | Durban Stadium | 16.00 | 00.00 (17.06.10) |
| 31 | 21.06.10 | Chile V Switzerland | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium | 16.00 | 00.00 (22.06.10) |
| 32 | 21.06.10 | Spain V Honduras | Ellis Park Stadium | 20.30 | 04.30 (22.06.10) |
| 47 | 25.06.10 | Chile V Spain | Loftus Versfeld Stadium | 20.30 | 04.30 (26.06.10) |
| 48 | 25.06.10 | Switzerland V Honduras | Free State Stadium | 20.30 | 04.30 (26.06.10) |
