Group B at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia promises to be a fascinating one as European giants and Iberian rivals Spain and Portugal battle for supremacy. With the Portuguese being the current European champions, and the Spanish having won the World Cup in South Africa just eight years ago, it will no doubt be a ding-dong battle for top spot in this tasty-looking group.
Also in the group are Herve Renard’s Morocco and Carlos Queiroz’s Iran, completing the strong Iberian feel to the quartet. The Iranians will be making their third World Cup appearance in the last four tournaments, while this will be Morocco’s first World Cup finals since France 1998.
Matchday Three: 25th June 2018
| Date | Time | Match | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th June 2018 | 19:00 | Iran v Portugal | Portugal to Win by One Goal |
| 25th June 2018 | 19:00 | Spain v Morocco | Spain to Win -2 |
Spain, Portugal and Iran can still make it through to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Round of 16, as Group B is still very much in the balance going into the final day. The Spanish and the Portuguese lead the way on four points each, with the Iranians just one point behind in third.
Morocco, meanwhile, are out having picked up zero points from two games despite playing some neat football at times. On Monday night, Iran and Portugal lock horns in a mouth-watering match in Saransk, with a draw enough for Portugal to progress. At the same time, Spain will be looking to book their place in the knockout rounds when they go up against the Moroccans in Kaliningrad.
Iran v Portugal
Monday 25th June, 19:00, BBC Four
Carlos Queiroz’s Iran face Fernando Santos’ Portugal at the Mordovia Arena on Monday. It’s winner takes all in Saransk, with just one point separating the pair. Of course, the current European champions are fancied to get the job done, with Cristiano Ronaldo in imperious form. That said, it must be noted that the Iranians have been a very difficult side to play against in Russia so far. Can Queiroz’s men cause an upset at the Mordovia Arena, or will the Portuguese do enough to go through?
After a last-gasp and quite possibly underserved win over Morocco in their opening Group B match of this World Cup, Iran put in a brave performance against the mighty Spain in Kazan last time out. Iran were unfortunate to lose on the night, with Diego Costa’s lucky effort being the only goal of a close game.
Still, the Iranians are more than capable of causing a shock in this one. After an enthralling 3-3 draw with Spain in Sochi, Portugal’s game with Morocco in Moscow was far less eventful. Having bagged a hat-trick in his opening match in Russia, Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo netted the only goal of the game at the Luzhniki Stadium to give his nation a priceless 1-0 win on Wednesday.
The UEFA Euro 2016 winners were pretty poor against Morocco, riding their luck on more than one occasion. However, with a draw being enough for the Portuguese, we can see Santos’ men booking their place in the last 16. With Ronaldo in the team, Portugal can go far in Russia and, although we think this will be a close encounter in Saransk, they should have enough in their locker to claim the win. Portugal to win by a one-goal margin is available at the tempting odds of 23/10 with Betfair.
Portugal to Win by One Goal – 23/10 at Betfair
Spain v Morocco
Monday 25th June, 19:00, BBC One
Since taking over on an interim basis in difficult circumstances on the eve of the World Cup’s opening game, Fernando Hierro has guided Spain to four points from a possible six in Group B. However, La Furia Roja have been made to work hard for every point so far. On Monday night, the Spanish go up against Herve Renard’s Morocco at the Kaliningrad Stadium looking to seal top spot in the group.
A point will be enough to take the 2010 World Cup winners into the last 16, but Hierro and his team will be on the lookout for all three in Kaliningrad. It’s been a topsy-turvy last couple of weeks or so for Spain, with two difficult World Cup games to boot. After conceding late to drop points against Portugal in their opening fixture, Spain got lucky in their hard-fought 1-0 win over Iran, with VAR rightly ruling out a second-half Iranian goal.
Morocco have certainly had their moments in Group B, but Wednesday’s narrow loss to Portugal in the Russian capital was enough to eliminate them from the competition. Nevertheless, Renard’s troops would love to rain on Spain’s parade before catching an early flight home. If they can be more clinical in front of goal they may have a chance but they don’t seem to have the players to improve in that regard.
These two nations have not gone head-to-head since 1961, but Spain are the overwhelming favourites to pick up the win on Monday. With Portugal battling with them for top spot, Hierro’s team could do with a big win in Kaliningrad. We can’t see La Roja having any problems in this one, and we like the look of Betfair’s big odds of 3/1 for Spain to win -2.
Spain to Win -2 – 3/1 at Betfair
Matchday Two: 20th June 2018
| Date | Time | Match | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20th June 2018 | 13:00 | Portugal v Morocco | Portugal to Win Both Halves |
| 20th June 2018 | 19:00 | Iran v Spain | Spain to Win 3-0 |
After playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw in their opening match in Group B, both Portugal and Spain will be looking for their first wins at this FIFA World Cup on Wednesday. The Portuguese get the action going again with a fixture with Morocco at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Wednesday afternoon. Shortly after, the Spanish lock horns with Group B leaders Iran at the Kazan Arena. Will we be treated to more fireworks in this fascinating group this week?
Portugal v Morocco
Wednesday 20th June, 13:00, BBC
Fernando Santos’s Portugal and Herve Renard’s Morocco meet at the Luzhniki Stadium in the Russian capital on Wednesday. Having earned a point in an enthralling encounter with Spain in Sochi last week, the Portuguese will be on the lookout for three big points in this one. The Moroccans, meanwhile, will still be kicking themselves after conceding a 95th-minute own goal to lose their opener against Iran.
The exceptional Cristiano Ronaldo was up to his usual tricks in Portugal’s first fixture at this World Cup, netting his 51st career hat-trick to earn his nation a vital point against Group B favourites Spain. With just two minutes left on the clock, the Real Madrid ace netted a superb free-kick to complete his treble and claim his country a precious point.
There was not a lot to split Morocco and Iran in Saint Petersburg on Friday, but Aziz Bouhaddouz’s own goal right at the very death gave the Iranians a 1-0 win at the Krestovsky Stadium.
Despite seeing far less of the ball in Sochi, Portugal matched Spain and were well worthy of their point. With Ronaldo in the side, the current European champions are very capable of going far in Russia. Meanwhile, after losing to Iran, Morocco can’t afford to fall to another defeat in this one. Unfortunately for Renard’s men, we fancy Santos’ Portugal to claim an easy victory in Moscow in midweek. Take a punt on the Portuguese to win both halves (14/5 at BetVictor) at the Luzhniki Stadium.
Portugal to Win Both Halves – 14/5 at BetVictor
Iran v Spain
Wednesday 20th June, 19:00, ITV
Fernando Hierro began life as Spain’s interim boss in dramatic style last week. However, after picking up just one point from their opening game, the Spanish will be desperate for all three this Wednesday. Hierro’s troops go up against Carlos Queiroz’s Iran at the Kazan Arena in Kazan in their second Group B matchup in Russia. The 2010 World Cup winners are the overwhelming favourites to get the job done in Kazan, but can the Iranians cause an upset against Spain?
The Spanish struggled to contain Portugal’s Ronaldo last Friday, falling behind on two occasions in the first half. Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa equalised twice before Nacho’s wonder goal gave Spain the lead just before the hour-mark. Ronaldo popped up again with an exquisite free-kick with just two minutes to go, and the draw was just about a fair result. Hierro would have loved a win in his first game in charge, but there were plenty of positives to take from the draw in Sochi. Iran, meanwhile, kicked off their tournament with an impressive win over the Moroccans. Bouhaddouz’s 95th-minute own goal in Saint Petersburg gave the Iranians their first victory at a World Cup since beating USA in France back in 1998. Queiroz’s and his side go into this one with nothing to lose.
After getting a feel for the tournament last week, Spain will be hungry to get more points on the board on Wednesday. Despite not picking up the win, La Furia Roja still played some scintillating football against Portugal at times, and the players don’t seem too concerned about the sacking of Julen Lopetegui. Because of that, our money is going on a routine victory for the Spanish here. We fancy Spain to secure a 3-0 win, which is available at the strong odds of 11/2 with Betfair.
Spain to Win 3-0 – 11/2 at Betfair
Matchday One: 15th June 2018
| Date | Time | Match | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15th June 2018 | 16:00 | Morocco v Iran | 1-1 Draw |
| 15th June 2018 | 19:00 | Portugal v Spain | Spain Win |
Morocco and Iran get this group up and running when they square off at the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg on Friday afternoon. Later in the day, Portugal and Spain meet in Sochi, which was of course the host for the 2014 Winter Olympics.
The Portuguese and the Spanish are the clear favourites to progress to the Round of 16 but can either Iran or Morocco cause an upset and put the cat amongst the pigeons in Group B? Friday’s game between Portugal and Spain promises to be a mouth-watering matchup in Sochi and could well decide who wins the group.
Morocco v Iran
Friday 15th June, 16:00, ITV
Although there’s not an awful lot in it in terms of the betting, Renard’s Morocco are the slight favourites to get their tournament up and running with a win in Saint Petersburg on Friday. However, Queiroz is a very experienced coach, and his set of players are more than capable of picking up the three points in this one. These two may be the minnows in Group B, but this should still be an intriguing clash at the Krestovsky Stadium. Perhaps the key issue will be whether the rivals view this as a must-win, or a must-not-lose.
After 20 years away from the grandest stage in world football, the Moroccans will be hoping to make the most of their time at this summer’s World Cup. Of course, making it out of the group will be a tall order, but picking up their first World Cup win since beating Scotland at France ’98 will be huge for the country. The Iranians, meanwhile, were unbeaten in qualifying, and they could cause one or two problems for their opponents in Russia. Queiroz has a fine record as Iran boss, especially in recent years.
With the pair pretty evenly matched, this one could go either way in Saint Petersburg on Friday afternoon. With that in mind, we fancy it to end all square at the Krestovsky Stadium. The 1-1 draw is available at the tempting odds of 11/2 with Betfair, a result that would leave both nations still in the hunt.
1-1 Draw – 11/2 at Betfair
Portugal v Spain
Friday 15th June, 19:00, BBC
Arguably, the standout game from this World Cup’s first round of fixtures is the blockbuster match between Fernando Santos’ Portugal and Julen Lopetegui’s Spain at Fisht Olympic Stadium on Friday afternoon. These two nations won 18 out of 20 qualifiers between them, shipping just five points along the way. Which way will this heavyweight showdown go in Sochi on Friday?
Fresh off the back of their superb UEFA Euro 2016 triumph and a brilliant qualifying campaign, the Portuguese will back themselves to go far in Russia. Having failed to get out of the group stage in Brazil four years ago, the European champions will be hoping to progress a lot further this time around, led by their brilliant talisman and goal machine, Cristiano Ronaldo.
As for Spain, after two disappointing major tournaments, Lopetegui’s class of 2018 will want to get off to the perfect start to this World Cup in Russia. As expected, La Furia Roja are fancied to pick up a win in their opener but where does the value lie in this one?
With several world class players on show in both camps, we’re anticipating a great game of football between these two top nations. Like the other game in the group, this has the potential to swing either way. However, after such an impressive qualifying campaign, Spain are beginning to look like their former selves again and offer a more balanced threat than in recent years. This could be tight, but we fancy the 2010 World Cup winners to take the spoils on Friday. You can get the Spain victory at the decent price of 10/11 with Bet365 and that looks like decent value to us.
Spain Win – 10/11 at Bet365