2018 World Cup: Group B Preview

2018 World Cup: Group B Preview

2010 World Cup Champions Spain ($1.50 favourites to win the pool) lead an impressive Group B field which also includes Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal ($3), North African nation Morocco ($17) and quality Asian qualifiers Iran ($34).

While the two European nations are the clear favourites in betting to progress from Group B, there is a case to be made for all four countries and this could be one of the most hotly-contested Pools at the 2018 World Cup.

Suggested Bet: Morocco to Finish Bottom of Group B @ $2.60

Spain

On paper, Spain are one of the 2018 World Cup’s best teams and they are a live chance of going all the way. La Liga is one of, if not the best league in the world and this squad is stacked with players from Barcelona and Real Madrid, with a few from the best English Premier League clubs to boot.

David de Gea is an absolute wall behind a defensive line led by 151 cap veteran Sergio Ramos, a potent midfield including the likes of Andres Iniesta, Isco, Thiago and David Silva and group of strikers including Diego Costa and Lucas Vasquez.

Spain were clearly the most disappointing nation at the 2014 World Cup and failed to make it out of the Group stage, and the 2018 World Cup is their chance at some redemption. The pressure isn’t nearly as great this time around and they can make a deep run in in Russia.

First Match: vs Portugal (Saturday, June 16th 4am AEST)

Portugal

If there was ever a nation to employ the old children’s football tactic of ‘when in doubt, kick it to the best player’, it’s understandably Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo has arguably been the world’s best player for the last decade and he has been instrumental in their rise to prominence on the world stage, which peaked with their first win at the Euros two years ago.

To their credit, Portugal actually haven’t been a one-man team for the last few years and Ronaldo is well and truly supported by a squad boasting names like Bernardo Silva, Joao Moutinho and Pepe.

Portugal does look to be a class below Spain in Group B, but they are the clear second pick and if they live up to expectations, they will be playing in the knock-out phase of the World Cup 2018.

First Match: vs Spain (Saturday, June 16th 4am AEST)

Morocco

Morocco look to be the big question mark in Group B at the 2018 World Cup. They have a number of decent players and at their best they are capable of competing with the best, but they were the shakiest of the five confirmed African nations during the qualification process and they simply cannot afford mistakes against this kind of company.

Juventus’s Medhi Benatia captains Morocco from central defence and an experienced midfield is probably where this team is at its best. Feyenoord’s Karim El Ahmadi, Galatasaray’s Younes Belhanda and Leganes’ Nordin Amrabat have more than 130 caps between them and they have been key to Morocco’s World Cup qualification, and will be in Russia as well.

They face a big task in winning a match, let alone progressing from the group stage and betting around Morocco could prove to be a lucrative play.

First Match: vs Iran (Saturday, June 16th 1am AEST)

Iran

Iran were outstanding during the Asian qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup and they are a live chance of winning a match in Russia. They finished seven points clear of South Korea in Group A and ultimately, two points better off than any other nation in Asian qualifying.

Manager Carlos Queiroz has picked a team full of Europe-based players, including the Olympiacos pairing of Ehsan Hajsafi and Karim Ansarifard, who have experienced plenty of success together at both club and international levels.

Perhaps most importantly, the Iranian squad is packed full of experience and in the dying moments of stalemate matches, that can often prove the difference. Iran do face a big task in winning out of Group B, but they are good enough to compete.

First Match: vs Morocco (Saturday, June 16th 1am AEST)