World Fantasy: Group B analysis
What you need to know about Group B of the World Cup
Group B of the World Cup has the European Champions, Portugal, as the first seeded team. Cristiano Ronaldo and company didn’t have much luck with the team they got from Pot 2, their neighbors Spain. Morocco and Iran are the teams from Pot 3 and 4, respectively, that complete the group.
The first round of the group will bring us, probably, the most interesting match of the whole GameWeek: Portugal vs. Spain. After this tough start, the Iberian teams will have a nicer calendar, playing agains Morocco and Iran. It should be a good idea to have some Portuguese and Spanish players for the second and third GameWeeks. If one of the two wins that first game, that team is the safer bet for the rest.
Spain and Portugal, 8th and 4th in the FIFA ranking respectively, are in the pole position to gain access to the next round. Nevertheless, this first game can become very important because if someone loses, they might go under pressure for the next match. Morocco, 42nd of the FIFA ranking, and Iran, 36th, will battle each other to gain some hope. The Moroccans, having one of the best generations of the last years, seem to start ahead of Iran and are the best candidates to take advantage of a slip from Portugal or Spain.
Portugal
Portugal won Group B of the European Qualifiers, with 27 points of 30 possible. Cristiano Ronaldo was the star, netting 15 goals in just 9 games played. The Portuguese team played in the Confederations Cup last year, as the European Champion. Fernando Santos’ team couldn’t repeat the success of the Euros, falling in the semi-finals against Chile. In the most recent friendlies, Portugal draw against Tunisia and Belgium.
The main figure in Portugal’s squad is unquestionable: Cristiano Ronaldo (12.0M) bears the hope of a country trying to win its first ever World Cup. But Ronaldo is not alone. The Real Madrid attacker has a lot of young talented company in the national team in the likes of Bernardo Silva (8.0), Gelson Martins (6.5) or Gonçalo Guedes (7.0) and the one with whom Ronaldo established a fruitful partnership in attack, AC Milan striker André Silva (7.5). In defense, Pepe (6.0), one of the most important players in the European title won by Portugal, is already 35 years old and has a partner only one year younger, José Fonte (5.5). They’re both playing away from the European elite, in Turkey and China, respectively.
In theory, Portugal should contend with Spain for the first place in the group. The teams advancing in this group will play against the ones from Group A and will have good chances of going forward for another round.
Spain
Spain granted their pass to Russia after winning Group G of the European Qualifiers, with 28 points. With several players scoring, there are four top scorers for the qualifiers, each with 5 goals: Diego Costa, Isco, David Silva and Morata (who is not on the final list of 23 for the World Cup). The team managed by Julen Lopetegui finished ahead of Italy, who couldn’t make it past Sweden in the play-off and won’t be in Russia. In the friendlies played this year, Spain draw with Germany and Switzerland, but smashed Argentina with a 6–1.
The Spaniards don’t have a major star above the others, like Neymar or Messi, but have a very strong starting XI, full of experienced players from the best teams in the world. In this starting XI they have five players who were World Champions in South Africa: Piqué (6.5M), Sergio Ramos (7.0), Busquets (5.5), Iniesta (8.0) and David Silva (8.5). We should highlight also the keeper David De Gea (6.5), one of the world’s best, and the striker Diego Costa (9.5).
The Spanish national team is one of the favourites to win the tournament. With a squad full of talent, the Spaniards will be one the main attractions, even if they fail to win the title.
Morocco
Morocco’s qualifying for the World Cup was brilliant. The team coached by Hervé Renard won the Group C of the African Qualifiers, ahead of Ivory Coast, Gabon and Mali. The most remarkable achievement of the Moroccans was not conceding a single goal in the group’s six fixtures. With 3 wins and 3 draws, the Moroccans scored 11 goals without conceding. This year, Morocco won the CHAN, a tournament like CAN but only for players who play in their nations championships.
The African team returns to a World Cup after 20 years, when they qualified for France 98. The Moroccans goal is to compromise Spain or Portugal’s qualification. This Moroccan generation is their best in several years. Under the leadership of defender Mehdi Benatia (5.0), there are some talented players to keep an eye on, like midfielders Nordin Amrabat (5.5) and Hakim Ziyech (6.0) and defender Achraf Hakimi (4.5), from Real Madrid’s academy.
With an underwhelming 42nd spot in the FIFA ranking, the “Atlas’ lions” will play without pressure, and that could make them dangerous. If they beat Iran in the first GameWeek and if there isn’t a draw in Portugal vs Spain, Morocco will have more reasons to believe in going forward.
Iran
Iran booked their passage to Russia thanks to the first place in the Group A of the Asian Qualifiers, ahead of Korea, Syria, Uzbekistan, China and Qatar. With 6 wins and 4 draws, Iranians were unbeaten in a steady qualification. With 11 goals, Sardar Azmoun was Iran’s top scorer and one of the main reasons they were able to grant a place in their second World Cup in a row. In their last friendlies, they beat Uzbekistan and lost to Turkey.
Iranian’s main star is the Rubin Kazan striker Azmoun (6.0). He is the main hope of Iran for scoring goals. With Carlos Queiroz’s solid defensive system, Iran will explore the counters, where Alireza Jahanbakhsh (5.0) should have an important role, after a great season in Eredivisie’s AZ Alkmaar.
Sitting in the 36th place in FIFA ranking, Iran is the best Asian squad of the moment. Like Morocco, Iran can only dream of going beyond the Group Stage if they beat the African side in the first game. After that, they need to shock the world agains Portugal or Spain.
Read our analysis of Group A, and create your team at RealFevr.com!
