Group B Preview

Group B will arguably provide one of the most highly anticipated matches of the first stage of this summer’s World Cup. Spain and Portugal will go head to head on 15th June in a match where the winners will surely top the group.

Spain will, for obvious reasons, be one of the favourites for the tournament. On paper, you can see why. Diego Costa leads the line with David Silva, Sergio Busquets, and Lucas Vasquez in the midfield. They are a side who will score goals, and after a disastrous tournament in Brazil four years ago, they will be desperate to come back strong in Russia. Given the quality of their group opposition, they should have no issues reaching the last sixteen stage. The furthest I can see Spain going is quarter finals, their squad might look good but it’s not the strongest and it’s hard to see them having enough quality to get much further.

Portugal will be heading to Russia as European Champions and they're upsetting of the odds in France two years ago will inspire at least a final eight finish in Russia. All eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo in what could be his final World Cup. He will want to end it in better circumstances than the 2016 final. Winning the Euros was unexpected, even getting close to the World Cup final is almost beyond the realms of possibility; but who knows? Stranger things have happened. They have a classy looking squad and Ronaldo will be well supported by the likes of Joao Moutinho and Joao Mario making them a side which will have enough to pack a punch. Failing to qualify out of the group won’t be an option for Fernando Santos’ side.

One of the other sides pitted against the two European nations is Morocco. They aren’t debutants at the tournament, but they haven’t appeared on the world stage since France ’98 so it may well feel that way to many Moroccans. However, they go into the 2018 finals in very good form. An unbeaten run including victories over Ivory Coast and South Korea has them set up well to face Spain and Portugal. It’s easy to see that they won’t fear any of their Group B opposition. It would be a fantastic upset if the African side could beat one of the European giants to a spot in the top two, but it’s hard to see this happening.

Iran complete the line-up in group B as they appear at back to back World Cups for the first time ever. Having lost just two of their last 14 matches they will be taking a positive mentality into only their fifth World Cup tournament, something which is always very important to have. Iran will be hoping Sardar Azmoun will carry his fine international goal scoring form into the tournament, 23 goals in 33 appearances will make him one of the inform players in Russia and one who many people wouldn’t know too much about. They will have a similar attitude to Morocco in the sense that they know the odds are against them but the Asian side will be sure to go all out against the powerhouses in their group.

The opening round of matches will perhaps see the best two and most evenly contested games. Spain take on Portugal and Morocco face Iran on just the second day of the tournament, it could be said that the winners of the latter will be in the best position to cause an upset at the top of the group. Even if Spain and Portugal go through, which is more than likely, they will both be tested by some tricky opposition.