2018 World Cup Team Profiles: Group B

In the second edition of our World Cup Team Profiles, Group B gets a breakdown. Who wins the Iberian Peninsula battle between Spain and Portugal? Can Cristiano Ronaldo claim yet another trophy and perhaps a Golden Boot? Will Iran and Morocco's strong defensive setups help them cause an upset? We go through it all here.

Want to hear more about these groups? Check out our Betting on the World Cup Podcast! You can listen to Stats Insider staff go in deep on each group. Here's their Group C & D Preview.

Average Group Outcome (According to Stats Insider Models):
Spain
Portugal
Morocco
Iran

PORTUGAL

Average Finishing Place In Group: 2nd
Odds to Qualify from Group (Percentage Chance): $1.40 (73.0%)
Odds to Win Group (Percentage Chance): $3.40 (29.6%)
Odds to Finish Bottom of Group (Percentage Chance): $15.00 (6.66%)
Odds to Win World Cup: $17.00 (5.93%)

Portugal shapes up as one of the definite Jekyll & Hyde nations heading into Russia 2018. Many have labelled them as a one-man army, led superbly by the phenomenal Cristiano Ronaldo who may be entering his last International tournament.

What’s most positive for the Portuguese is that they are a better side now than the one who won EURO 2016. The likes of Bernardo Silva and Andre Silva complement Ronaldo in the attack, whilst depending on ageing veterans Pepe, Jose Fonte and Bruno Alves in defence. The team won 9 of 10 qualifiers, and Ronaldo had 15 goals in the campaign. He was superbly aided by Silva, who bagged 9.

Portugal qualified for the World Cup behind an attacking mentality, averaging more than three goals a game. This was far different from the EURO 2016 winning side that worked their way through the tournament grinding out result after result in a manner that reflected “not losing” over “playing to win”, relying on extra time and penalty shootouts. Which version of Fernando Santos men will be deployed this summer?

Keep your eye on: Cristiano Ronaldo, who else? This is likely his last World Cup (he has said he plans to play until he’s 41 but does that include International football?), and the Messi-Ronaldo narrative will continue on into Russia. With 149 caps and 81 goals to his name, his impact on the tournament will have a huge influence on the way things play out.

SPAIN

Average Finishing Place In Group: 1st
Odds to Qualify from Group (Percentage Chance): $1.20 (86.0%)
Odds to Win Group (Percentage Chance): $1.68 (59.6%)
Odds to Finish Bottom of Group (Percentage Chance): $31 (3.25%)
Odds to Win World Cup: $7.30 (13.72%)

Despite disappointing in a round of 16 exit in EURO 2016 and a group stage disaster in the 2014 World Cup, Spain linger as a big contender for Russia 2018. La Roja qualified top of their group ahead of the Italian side who knocked them out of EURO 2016, and Julen Lopetegui has reinvigorated the group that had gone stale under Vicente Del Bosque.

The bulk of this team from Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique in defence to Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta in midfield will go around again for what is likely one last hurrah, but they are ably supported by rising stars Marco Asensio, Isco and Koke.

Not many teams can claim to have the depth that the Spanish do, and provided they don’t trip up like they have in previous big tournaments they can win the tournament. David De Gea also anchors the team in goal and gives them every chance in any game as the best goalkeeper in World Football.

Keep your eye on: he doesn’t get the credit he deserves, but David Silva keeps this Spanish side ticking over the same way he does for Manchester City. Understated as he is brilliant, the playmaker’s ability to link the team from defence to attack will be crucial to the Spanish’s chances.

IRAN

Average Finishing Place In Group: 4th 
Odds to Qualify from Group (Percentage Chance): $5.10 (19.5%)
Odds to Win Group (Percentage Chance): $20.75 (4.82%)
Odds to Finish Bottom of Group (Percentage Chance): $2.10 (47.52%)
Odds to Win World Cup: $1250 (0.07%)

Iran will enter their second consecutive World Cup, and they will be widely underestimated by the wider footballing faculty. Carlos Queiroz’s men are a disciplined and hard working unit, built upon a deep-lying defence, and a fast-moving counterattacking unit in attack. They are a tactically flexible unit that shouldn’t be assumed to struggle their way through.

Despite more fancied teams in their region, Iran qualified for the World Cup first ahead of all other Asian nations. Even more impressive than that, they did it with 12 consecutive clean sheets. They were undefeated through the campaign, including against the likes of South Korea.

Going unbeaten through a two-phase, eighteen game schedule is no joke, and Iran’s Group B rivals should be wary that the Iranian’s will not go quietly into the night.

Keep your eye on: 23-year-old Sardar Azmoun is a name many won’t know now, but they might after this summer. The young forward already has 23 goals at International level in just 31 appearances. His potential success this summer as a breakout star will be key to any chance of Queiroz delivering on his expectations of making the knockout stages.

MOROCCO

Average Finishing Place In Group: 3rd
Odds to Qualify from Group (Percentage Chance): $4.60 (21.52%)
Odds to Win Group (Percentage Chance): $16.60 (6.04%)
Odds to Finish Bottom of Group (Percentage Chance): $2.35 (42.50%)
Odds to Win World Cup: $725 (0.13%)

It’s been twenty years but the Atlas Lions are back in the World Cup. On the back of a defence that miraculously didn’t concede a single goal during qualifying, Morocco has built a strong unit under the management of Hervé Renard. The Moroccans qualified ahead of the Ivory Coast in Group C of their qualifying group, so they shouldn’t be underestimated.

Renard is ably assisted by Patrice Beaumelle and Mustapha Hadji, who are his two key men on the sidelines. Medhi Benatia is the leader and Captain of the side, leading a strong defence. He’s great at passing out from the back that can begin fast counter attacks, and he is excellent in the air.

Ajax midfielder Hakim Ziyech, Galatasaray’s Younès Belhanda, Fenerbahce’s Nabil Dirar and Southampton’s Sofiane Boufal comprise a promising group of players for the North African nation who bring flair and attacking talent. Ziyech had previously had issues between himself and Renard but the two made peace and he has returned to the fold.

Keep your eye on: you might have seen glimpses of Boufal in the Premier League, but he’ll get his chance to show the world his talent this summer. A hard worker and an incredible dribbler, Boufal is also adept at shooting from distance and set pieces. He might be that player who scores a wonder goal we remember for years.

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