Spain look to bounce back

JOHANNESBURG (AP):

Anything less than a win for Spain against Honduras later today could see one of the pre-tournament favourites making an early exit from the World Cup.

The Spanish team described their shock 1-0 defeat to Switzerland in their opening game an "accident" as they lost for only the second time in 49 matches, which means they cannot afford to slip up again in Group H.

The European champions play their Central American opponent at Johannesburg's Ellis Park with both teams trailing Switzerland and Chile by three points following opening defeats. Honduras opened with a 1-0 loss to Chile.

"We're very motivated after the accident of the other day," defender Carles Puyol said yesterday. "It's so important, it's a final."

Spain are confident their bad day has passed and they can live up to their billing as a pre-tournament favourite after so many disappointments at past World Cups. But they may have to do it without midfielder Andres Iniesta, who hurt his right leg against the Swiss.

"We have to go out with a lot of desire and a lot of respect because we know it won't be easy," said Puyol, who doesn't believe his team is guilty of looking beyond the initial stages. "I don't think we lacked respect for anybody."

One of the changes coach Vicente del Bosque could make is to bring Fernando Torres back into the line-up.

Alongside forward David Villa, Torres could provide the extra punch Spain was lacking in attack against the Swiss. Despite having the bulk of possession, Spain were missing a cutting edge against a massed Swiss defence.

The important thing

"We had chances. We didn't score a goal and that was the key. Let's hope it doesn't happen again since that would be odd," Torres said. "The most important thing is not to allow anxiety to overwhelm us if minutes pass and we are not able to score."

Not surprisingly, Spain have encountered criticism following the Swiss defeat, much of it directed at the coach.

Former coach Luis Aragones, who led Spain to the 2008 European title, said his successor was wrong in playing two holding midfielders; Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets, and only Villa up front. That left Torres and creative midfielder Cesc Fabregas out of the line-up. Fabregas did not even come on as a substitute.

No change

Since the defeat, the Spanish players have insisted there will be no change to the team's possession-based, quick-touch game regardless of who starts. Del Bosque expects Honduras to open up more than the Swiss did due to the offensive players they possess, such as Wilson Palacios.

"We're not going to change much about the style of our game, which has taken us this far after these two years and even before that," Del Bosque said. "We just need to show better finish in front of goal."

Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda is expecting the full force of a Spanish backlash.

"We should not be distracted by the (Swiss) result," Rueda said. "As one of the favourites and having lost their first game, Spain will be even more determined."

Rueda, who returns after serving a touchline ban in the match against Chile, will be hoping that his main striker David Suazo has fully recovered from right thigh injury to be able to play a part in the match against Spain.