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FIFA World Cup 2018: Group B analysis (Spain, Portugal, Iran, Morocco)

FIFA World Cup 2018 Group B analysis: In group containing Spain, Portugal, Iran and Morocco, the European teams are favoured to go through.

A mural of Spain captain Sergio Ramos at Krasnodar, Russia ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2018 (Image: Twitter)

World Cup fixtures | Groups and points table

Group A</a> |</strong> <strong><a class=Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H" title="Group A | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H" />Group A | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H

myKhel.com predicts how each group will pan out in Russia.


Group B

Countries: Spain, Iran, Portugal, Morocco

Fixtures:

Morocco vs Iran at 8.30 pm IST on June 15 (Saint Petersburg)

Portugal vs Spain at 11.30 pm IST on June 15 (Sochi)

Portugal vs Morocco at 5.30 pm IST on June 20 (Moscow Luzhniki)

Iran vs Spain at 11.30 pm IST on June 20 (Kazan)

Spain vs Morocco at 11.30 pm IST on June 25 (Kaliningrad)

Portugal vs Iran at 11.30 pm IST on June 25 (Saransk)

Key game: Portugal vs Spain

Interesting battles: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) vs Sergio Ramos (Spain)

Sardar Azmoun (Iran) vs Pepe (Portugal)

Diego Costa (Spain) vs Mehdi Benatia (Morocco)


Group predictor: Spain had an unceremonious exit from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, having been thrashed 5-1 by Netherlands and 2-0 by Chile in the group stages. This time around, they are the favourites to go all the way in Russia and they have the talent to back it up too. Comprising an energetic midfield with the likes of Isco and Marco Asensio backed by experienced hands in Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, Spain will bring their flair and creativity to the attack. The defensive duo of Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique have proven to be the best in the world right now and it will be interesting to see how they match up against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

While the big name in the Portuguese side is definitely Ronaldo, they also have certain upcoming stars in the midfield. Andre Silva of AC Milan and Bernardo Silva of Manchester City could light up the games against Spain and Iran. Ricardo Quaresma is on the wrong side of his thirties but Portugal, coached by tactical mastermind Fernando Santos, have shown they can perform as a team.

Speaking of teams, Carlos Queiroz's Iran is a balanced side. Sardar Azmoun has netted on 11 occasions for Iran in qualifying, including against India in Bengaluru. Russia is familiar territory for the 23-year-old, who plays for Rubin Kazan in the Russian Premier League. Complimenting him is AZ Alkmaar's Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who was the Eredivisie's top-scorer this season with 21 goals. The defence remains solid and will prove hard for big countries to breach.

But two young sides Iran and Morocco will be up against the European heavyweights Spain and Portugal for a spot in the Round of 16. Had Iran been in any other group, their progress to the knockouts would have been guaranteed.

Mehdi Benatia, Morocco captain, will seek the best from his side, who brushed aside Ivory Coast, Gabon and Mali during qualifying. Hakim Ziyech of Ajax Amsterdam is a terrifying set-piece specialist and will orchestrate the moves from the midfield but it will be difficult for them to earn three points against Spain and Portugal. A draw against Iran will be a good result for North African side.

Group picks: Spain and Portugal to go through. Iran to finish third and Morocco fourth.


Team-by-team analysis:

Brazil</a> | <a class=Costa Rica | Serbia | Switzerland" title="Brazil | Costa Rica | Serbia | Switzerland" />Brazil | Costa Rica | Serbia | Switzerland

Germany</a> | <a class=Sweden | Mexico | South Korea" title="Germany | Sweden | Mexico | South Korea" />Germany | Sweden | Mexico | South Korea

Belgium</a> | <a class=Panama | England | Tunisia" title="Belgium | Panama | England | Tunisia" />Belgium | Panama | England | Tunisia

Poland</a> | <a class=Japan | Colombia | Senegal" title="Poland | Japan | Colombia | Senegal" />Poland | Japan | Colombia | Senegal

Story first published: Saturday, June 16, 2018, 1:27 [IST]
Other articles published on Jun 16, 2018