WC 2018 Group B: Spain Portugal Iran Morocco

This is a fun group. It's close to a group of death if Iran comes in form and ready to play.

 

Heading to two matches in this group (#19 & #36).

I haven't seen much of Iran in recent years but would love to know anything about them. Morocco have some exciting players (Ziyech, Boufal, Amrabat) but tough draw for both

 

15 June
Morocco 17:00 (CET) Iran in St. Petersburg
Portugal 20:00 Spain in Sochi

20 June
Portugal 14:00 Morocco in Moscow
Iran 20:00 Spain in Kazan

25 June
Iran 20:00 Portugal in Saransk
Spain 20:00 Morocco in Kaliningrad

 

I am going to go out on a limb and say Spain and Portugal advance.

 

Absolutely hyped to see CQs plans.

Absolutely hyped to see Azmoun vs Ramos/Puyol.

Absolutely hyped to see Ronaldo vs the defense.

 

Puyol won't come out of retirement for the World Cup

 

I don't see Spain having much trouble but I can see Portugal going 3-and-out. What makes it more interesting is the Iberian derby happens on the first matchday. So one of the favorites will be under immense pressure if that doesn't end in a draw.

 

Our players seem hyped based on what they posted on social media, very surprising. Azmoun: “Yes! What a group [emoji1320][emoji7]”.

Ezzatollahi also wished for Spain and Portugal last week

 

Well from my perspective, just one Portuguese guy, I'm confident in my team. I haven't felt we have had this depth since 2006. That being said, I think the first game will tell all. If we get a win or draw we are golden, if not then we will have to loosen up which takes us out of our game. Morocco is quit solid and Iran is the very definition of resilient/tough. I see a lot of 1-0 score lines here. The only thing I can say for sure, come June my best friend will be Jack Daniels.

 

Morocco Iran is a certain 0 - 0.

 

The draw is terrible for Iran but the schedule offsets it somewhat. If Spain v Portugal was the last match, I would give Iran less than 5% chance to advance from this group. But with Iran playing its first game against Morocco and the last game against Portugal, I do give us at least a 25% chance. And if we do make it out of this group, we will be the surprise team of the tournament. The same for Morocco. They too have around a 25% chance and could be the surprise team instead of Iran.

 

Oops meant Pique. Miss Puyol too much

 

Tough group. This is where "put your money where your mouth is" comes for Iran, let's see how good they really are.

 

Blessing in disguise that Ezzatollahi is suspended for Morocco game. Would be better to use Hajsafi or Ebrahimi against Morocco for posession. Ironically Ziyech vs Jahanbakhsh.

Regardless of final outcome, Iran/Morocco are teams that will absolutely make Portugal/Spain work for it.

Not expecting blowouts like I do in the Belgium, England, Tunisia, Panama group

 

Carlos Queiroz: "For me it is a very special group, because Portugal is my country and I had the fortune to train Real Madrid, so my link with Spain is narrow. But now only the coach of Iran and my goal is to make it difficult for some as well as for others, and also for Morocco. But we are aware of our possibilities. What is certain is that we are going to make war, that it will not be easy to beat Iran and that my players will try to have their minute of glory. There is nothing written. We'll see what happens."

 

There's a lot of history between Morocco, Spain and Portugal. Surely something interesting is brewing for this group.

I honestly think the door's open for anyone not called Spain, and Spain is already through the other door.

 

I just hope all teams in the group take Iran lightly just like the mainstream medias are doing, that's actually our best chance to ruin the show

 

Personally, I don't think Spain and Portugal will take Iran or Morocco lightly. The media are a bunch morons anyways. ANY team can miss going to the round of 16.

 

Its not that I disagree with them that Portugal/Spain are clear favorites.

But some of the stuff said like that idiot Fernando Fierro "not worth watching" is ridiculous

 

Yeah there are SO many guys like Fernando who are cocky and act like their sh!t don't stink. Guys like Craig Burley, Shaka, Alexi Lalas, Fernando etc. all suck and think they know everything about ALL the teams.

 

You're going to hear several ignorant comments going into the WC. Some of us supporters realize how tricky this group is. I am still confident Portugal will get out, but not without some real nerves.