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Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile

 

European champions Spain have been given a veritable 'tourist group' and will progress even if they put out a second stream side for all three matches. The battle for second place will take place between nations not really represented in London's population breakdown, making this a group for the neutrals (much like Switzerland, then).

 
Wednesday 16 June, 12.30pm: Honduras v Chile
Wednesday 16 June, 3pm: Spain v Switzerland
Monday 21 June, 3pm: Chile v Switzerland
Monday 21 June, 7.30pm: Spain v Honduras
Friday 25 June, 7.30pm: Chile v Spain
Friday 25 June, 7.30pm: Switzerland v Honduras
 
LondonTown top two prediction: Spain & Switzerland

 
 
Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, ChileSpain
 
Head to Camino at Kings Cross to watch European champions Spain try and go one better in South Africa this summer. Perennial underachievers in the World Cup, La Furia Roja start the tournament as favourites, which is understandable given a team-sheet that boasts the likes of Torres, Xavi, Iniesta, Villa and Fabregas. Camino is a great new restaurant/bar with Sagres on tap and a suntrap courtyard which packs out in the summer. The food is top notch, including a delicious if select choice of traditional tapas, jamon and dishes from Mallorca to Madrid, many of which are cooked on a vast charcoal grill brought all the way from Spain. Camino promises to show all Spain's games in the tournament - but expect it to get very busy. Another option, more central, is Ryan's Bar in St Paul's, an Irish tapas bar which has rebranded itself as 'El Ryan'. Sometimes it's unsure whether or not the place is more Iberian than Hibernian, but it shows a lot of sport on its many TV screens and will have a particular bias towards Spain this summer. Residents of Stoke Newington will be dismayed to learn that the popular Bar Lorca - a veritable Spanish football shrine - has closed down. Camden's Bodega de Tapas will be showing all games but reserve while you can because entry was nigh-on impossible during Euro 2008.
 
Wednesday 16 June, 3pm: Spain v Switzerland
Monday 21 June, 7.30pm: Spain v Honduras
Friday 25 June, 7.30pm: Chile v Spain
 
 
Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, ChileSwitzerland
 
Where better to head for Switzerland's games in the World Cup than St Moritz, London's oldest Swiss restaurant. The Soho institution, famous for its fondues, was opened in 1974 by owner and chef Armin Loetscher, and showed all the Switzerland games in 2006 and Euro 2008. In Germany, the Schweizer Nati held the bizarre stat of being the only unbeaten team to be knocked out of the tournament, losing to Ukraine on penalties in the last 16 after topping their group (which included eventual finalists France). This year, the Swiss will fancy their chances coming second in their group ahead of Chile and Honduras. An alternative venue for Swiss fans is Covent Garden's Swiss Church in London, which has screened big national matches in the past. Or, if you want to be very tenuous, you could hunt out a sports bar in Swiss Cottage…
 
Wednesday 16 June, 3pm: Spain v Switzerland
Monday 21 June, 3pm: Chile v Switzerland
Friday 25 June, 7.30pm: Switzerland v Honduras
 
 
Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, ChileHonduras
 
Try as we might, we couldn't come up with a proper bona fide recommendation for Honduras. In fact, apart from the few that work at the Embassy, are there any Hondurans in London at all? Taking the Honduras Embassy (which is located on Gloucester Place) as the only lead, you could try nearby Marylebone pubs The Temperance and The Bok Bar, both of which will be showing the World Cup. We would suggest being canny and trying out Honduras Street in Clerkenwell, but the street's only café, Pingo Doce, has recently closed down. A great venue for any "neutral" games (ie. those involving Honduras - given their lowly representation here in London) is Bar Kick in Shoreditch. The place has a strong international vibe and should be packed out for Honduras's opening game against the Spanish, less so for clashes against Chile and Japan. Los Catrachos have appeared just once in a World Cup, back in 1982, and are still looking for a maiden victory in the competition. But with Premiership pair Maynor Figueroa and Wilson Palacios, a victory is not entirely out of the question even if progression looks a bit beyond a side ranked No.40 in the world.
 
Wednesday 16 June, 12.30pm: Honduras v Chile
Monday 21 June, 7.30pm: Spain v Honduras
Friday 25 June, 7.30pm: Switzerland v Honduras
 
 
Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, ChileChile
 
Chile must be the longest country on the planet and our search for a Chilean establishment in London must have gone on for the longest of every nation in this feature. But try as we might, we just couldn't find a place pinning its hopes on La Roja this summer. Instead, how about a selection of South American bars which should be showing all Chile's group games and beyond? Both Barrio North, in Islington, and Barrio Central, in Soho, should be considered, as should Buen Ayre in Broadway Market (if you prefer your football with a slice of Argentinean steak). In Shoreditch both Bar Kick and East Village promise to be truly international in their broadcasting of World Cup games so the atmosphere should be pretty great - especially for the game against Spain. On the pitch, what Chile lack in star quality, they make up in a solid team ethic. Their players should be able to cope with the altitude of the pitches in South Africa, but the European Champions Spain and a much-improved Switzerland will press them all the way to the next round.
 
Wednesday 16 June, 12.30pm: Honduras v Chile
Monday 21 June, 3pm: Chile v Switzerland
Friday 25 June, 7.30pm: Chile v Spain

World Cup 2010 in London: Nation by Nation

Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France

Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France

This will be a tough group for the host nation South Africa to progress from even if France are traditionally quite slow star...

Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
 
 
 
Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic, Greece

Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic, Greece

Qualification should be relatively straight forward for Argentina in the second of three World Cup groups which feature teams from...

Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic, Greece
 
 
 
Group C: England, United States, Algeria, Slovenia

Group C: England, United States, Algeria, Slovenia

Given the home strip of each of the four teams, we'll call this the White Group. England, of course, will be favourites and should...

Group C: England, United States, Algeria, Slovenia
 
 
 
Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana

Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana

On paper it looks like Germany will have it easy but this may prove to be a fiercely contested group. Serbia are no push-overs, Au...

Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana
 
 
Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon

Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon

Group E should prove one of the tightest in the tournament. While Japan don't stand much hope, the Dutch, the Danes and the C...

Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
 
 
 
Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia

Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia

The reigning world champions shouldn't break into too much of a sweat so the denizens of Soho can expect Bar Italia to be brimming...

Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
 
 
 
Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Ivory Coast, Portugal

Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Ivory Coast, Portugal

Every World Cup there's a Group of Death and this seems to be it. Brazil seem certain to qualify while the Ivory Coast, who were i...

Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Ivory Coast, Portugal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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