2018 FIFA Men's World Cup (Group B)

Group B

Portugal (4) FIFA Rankings

Spain (8)

Morocco (42)

Iran (36)

The 2018 FIFA men’s world cup is approaching and the world will soon have their sights on Russia this summer. This year FIFA decided to take a different route in determining how the teams would be placed in the allocated four pots in which the teams are randomly picked to form the eight groups for the initial phase of the tournament. The premise behind FIFA’s decision was to make it more balanced, where a group couldn’t have three teams that were all in the top 10 FIFA rankings. Spain was not rank as high and as a result were drawn in a group with the European Champions.

Portugal may be the higher ranked team in Group B, but I see it as Spain’s to lose. La Furia Roja have not lost a match since March 2017 and their two most recent friendlies they tied Germany and beat Argentina 6-1. Spain is going through a bit of a transition under their head coach, Julen Lopetegui. Lopetegui has introduced younger players into an aging squad in a manner that has not disrupted the team’s success that some teams face during a similar process. Alvaro Morata isn’t playing well at Chelsea and Diego Costa only has 3 goals since he became available to play for Athletico Madrid in January. Yet, that won’t bother the coach or fans as Rodrigo from Valencia and Iago Aspas have been in excellent form this year for their clubs and played in the last two friendlies.

Portugal are the European champions, but I am still a skeptic on the quality of the team. Cristiano Ronaldo is on fire at the moment scoring goal after goal, but that is not what I mean when I discuss the quality of the Portuguese national team. They are European champions and that can’t be disputed, but the manner in which they won it can be. I don’t see a team replicating what Portugal did at the Euro’s and winning the world cup. The lack of quality as a team is due to the age of the defensive back line. Bruno Alves is (36) years old, Rolando (32), Jose Fonte (34), Luis Neto (29) and if Pepe gets called he is 35. Those are Portugal’s current centerbacks. In their last two friendlies Portugal narrowly defeated Egypt with two 90 minute goals from Ronaldo and lost to a Netherland’s team that failed to qualify for the world cup.

Morocco has qualified for the 2018 world cup after a twenty-year absence. Morocco hasn’t lost since June 10 2017 and has a variety of players playing all across Europe. Their captain, Medhi Benatia, most recently known for bringing down Lucas Vasquez in the 90^th minute to award a penalty to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, anchors the Moroccan defense. When Portugal and Morocco face each other in their group stage match I can only see Ronaldo getting the best of Benatia.

Iran is a team that is well organized and has been steadily getting better. They are a team that plays well and can match their opponent’s tempo. In their last world cup appearance in 2014 the Iranians finished last in their group. However, it did take Lionel Messi to produce a bit of magic and score a magnificent goal to give Argentina a 1-0 win.

On paper it is easy to dismiss Iran and Morocco, but I would say that Portugal and Spain should not over look these two national teams. All four teams in group B finished as winners in their respective qualifying groups to make it to Russia. I will still take Spain to win the group, but Portugal might have problems if they don’t take 3 points from Iran and Morocco as I don’t see them defeating Spain.