Spain, Switzerland to face off

Spain will begin their 2010 World Cup campaign this morning when they take on Switzerland in Group H in Durban.



The match is scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m and is the second of two games in the group. Honduras and Chile will meet at 6:30 in Nelspruit.



Having triumphed at Euro 2008, Spain finally managed to lose the tag of perennial underachievers who always impress in qualifying but then flatter to deceive in major tournaments.



Vicente del Bosque\'s squad is also brimming with experience in terms of players who have enjoyed great success at club level, and Spain enter the World Cup as arguably the favourites to claim glory.



Del Bosque had been sweating over the fitness of several of his key men in the weeks approaching the World Cup, with Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta among those causing the manager a headache.



Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld showered Spain with praise yesterday but believes the European champions are beatable.



Hitzfeld said Spain are one of the favourites to win the title but his side has nothing to lose and could be one of the teams to make one of the favourites tumble.



Also today, hosts South Africa and Uruguay will contest their second Group ‘A’ game at 1:30 p.m.