Well the final group will get underway on Wednesday and the host nation will play their second match:
Honduras vs Chile - 5:30 am MT - ESPN
SB Nation Exclusive Content:
Honduras Team Site and Team Guide
Chile Team Site and Team Guide
Match links:
Official preview from FIFA
The Chile side coached by Marcelo 'El Loco' Bielsa were one of the genuine revelations of the qualifying stage for the 2010 FIFA World CupTM, the Argentine strategist's hard-running outfit finishing second in the South American section behind Brazil. Up against them in their opening encounter in Group H are CONCACAF side Honduras, returning to football's biggest stage after a 28-year absence.
Regardless of injuries, Chile will be favorite to make a winning start at the Mbombela stadium after finishing just a point behind Brazil in the South American qualifiers and holding the No. 18 world ranking, 20 spots above Honduras.
This is a match that most experts would pick Chile to win, they did finish a solid second in South American, while it was a late goal by the US against Cost Rica that put Honduras into the World Cup. I am picking this one to end as a 1-1 draw as Honduras look to make the most of their opportunity.
The second matchup from Group H is
Spain vs Switzerland - 8:00am MT - ESPN
SB Nation Exclusive Content
Spain Team Site and Team Guide
Swiss Team Site and Team Guide
Match Links:
Spain can expect some chilly temperatures in Durban when they take on Switzerland in what will be their 50th FIFA World CupTM finals match. The heat will almost certainly be on the Swiss, however, who have yet to beat La Roja in 18 attempts.
Spain and Switzerland have had a long wait to get their World Cup campaigns under way. They'll be the last teams to play their first games in South Africa when they meet at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Well Spain is the favorite of many people to win the whole thing, I know they are my team to beat and I think they will deal with the neutral Swiss quickly and effectively, 3-0 win for Spain.
South Africa vs Uruguay after the jump:
Well the host nation kicked us off last Friday and now they will be the first team to play their second group stage match when they face Uruguay, this will be a huge match as both teams got draws in their first match and the entire group is sitting with one point each. A win in this match will go a long way towards securing a spot in the group of 16:
South Africa vs. Uruguay 12:30pm MT - ESPN
Exclusive SB Nation Content
South Africa Team Site - Team Guide
Uruguay Team Site - Team Guide
Match Links
Group A looks too close to call after two draws on the opening day, but hosts South Africa and Uruguay should have a clearer idea of their destinies at this FIFA World CupTM after what promises to be a hotly contested encounter in the heartland of Tshwane/Pretoria. While it is far-fetched to suggest that their Loftus Versfeld Stadium encounter will be decisive, a victory for either side would go a long way to booking a place in the Round of 16.
Now that the pressure and tension of the opening day draw with Mexico is out of the way, South Africa is gaining confidence ahead of Wednesday's match against a Uruguay lineup that could well field three strikers.
Although Mexico hit back in a 1-1 draw to deny the South Africans a victory at Soccer City on Friday, the hosts are satisfied that their overall performance in the game boosted their chances of beating two-time World Cup winner Uruguay at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria.
I am going to go out on a limb and think that the emotion of getting a draw in their opening match will motivate the hosts to play better and smarter and come out with a 1-0 win.
Hey it is going to be a great day, as we continue to move forward with the World Cup. Today was the first day that we got an email from the CIO telling everyone to stop watching the streaming feeds online of the matches, good thing I use my own wifi card, so I can keep watching.
OFF MY SOAPBOX