Nelspruit: Chile midfielder Jean Beausejour said Switzerland's surprise victory over Spain in the World Cup won't affect his team's preparations for the rest of the Group H games.
Beausejour scored the winning goal in Chile's 1-0 victory against Honduras on Wednesday, but the Swiss result complicated a group in which Spain was expected to dominate.
Chile's match against Switzerland on June 21 has now taken on added significance. A win for either team would all but guarantee qualification, while a loss could lead to an early trip home.
Beausejour said on Thursday "it depends on us and what we can do" and "we are not interested in other results." He added that Switzerland "looked physical" and "are a very strong team."
"Honduras gave us the responsibility of trying to win the game, we were the ones looking to get a result," he said.
"Against Switzerland that's going to change a bit. They've got a potent counter attack and I think it's going to be a very even game."
The only disappointing aspect to Chile's opening day victory was the inability to score more goals from the chances that were created.
The best opportunity to double the Chilean lead fell to defender Waldo Ponce whose diving header from close range produced one of the saves of the tournament so far from Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares.
"I've had the chance to see the replay," Ponce said. "The first thing I thought was to head the ball but now I'm thinking I should have done something different.
"It was a typical first game. The anxiety for some players — including me — is always there, even after starting the game. Now we've got that out of the way.
"We have to go on and try to give the best of ourselves and get the points we need to qualify for the next round."
Chile's encouraging performance has led some people to mark the team down as outside bets for the tournament.
"I think it's very early to be talking about such things. At the end we will be able to evaluate whether Chile had a successful World Cup," Beausejour said.
Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa could afford to leave his main striker Humberto Suazo on the bench against Honduras.
Suazo has recovered from the left thigh injury he suffered in a pre-World Cup friendly against Israel, but a lack of match fitness meant he was not risked.
Chile switched training from 1.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday in preparation for the match against Switzerland, which will be played at the later time.
Suazo, wearing a hood against the cold, trained with the rest of the squad members who were not involved against Honduras.
The players took part in some running and stretching before working with the ball.
Forward Jorge Valdivia, who suffered a dead leg in his right thigh against Honduras, and midfielder Carlos Carmona, who has been carrying a right ankle injury, both trained in the gym.
Neither injury is considered serious.
After the Switzerland match in Port Elizabeth on June 21, Chile faces Spain on June 25 in Pretoria in the final group game.
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