12 Jun 2019
Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Iran
Sometimes it looks all too easy. World Cup Group B odds suggest that Spain and Portugal are the two who should progress to the knockout stage – and pedigree suggests there is every reason to think that they will.
Julen Lopetegui’s Spain side are high in the World Cup outright betting odds at 11/2, with only Brazil and Germany ahead of them.
They are packed with talent, possessing a spine of David De Gea, Sergio Ramos, Isco, David Silva and Diego Costa. They look full of goals and almost every one of the squad has bags of big-game experience. They could go a long way, if not all the way.
Spain kick off their tournament against Portugal on June 15 which, on paper at least, will be each side’s most difficult game in Group B. The winner of that will almost certainly qualify, as Morocco and Iran would appear to be simply making up the numbers.
Portugal are 15/8 second favourites to win Group B, behind 4/9 Spain. The reigning European Champions are led by Fernando Santos, who incidentally took Greece to round 16 of the 2014 World Cup.
Yet while they have the guile of Cristiano Ronaldo and playmaking ability of Bernardo Silva, Santos will be worried by their lack of pace at the back.
Age is a major concern, with Jose Fonte looking woefully older than his 34 years when playing for West Ham last season, while Bruno Alves is 36 and Pepe past his prime at 35. Despite their experience, their generous odds of 22/1 to win the World Cup reflect the fact their window may be closing fast.
Morocco are led by former Cambridge United manager Herve Renard which, at first glance, rather sums them up. He lasted 25 games at the Abbey Stadium in 2004. Since then he has managed Zambia, Angola and Ivory Coast.
Not that this Morocco side is bereft of talent – far from it. They boast Dutch Footballer of the Year Hakim Ziyech, who has been outstanding for Ajax. His playmaking and dead-ball ability has attracted the likes of Roma and Liverpool, and he could well become one of the stars of the World Cup.
Morocco are 3/1 to qualify from the Group stages and that might start to look a little generous should there be a positive result in the Spain vs Portugal clash.
In fact, the more you look at this side, the more you like them. Yes, they are not particularly prolific up front, but defensively they are organised and did not let in a goal during their qualifying campaign. Is it beyond the realms of possibility that they could upset the odds in any game by way of a set-piece?
Morocco must first see off an Iran side whose star player also had an outstanding season in the Dutch Eredivisie. Alireza Jahanbakhsh scored 21 goals for AZ Alkmaar and set up another 12, which has set the likes of West Ham, Everton and Crystal Palace on alert.
Iran are 11/2 to qualify from Group B and 33/1 to win the group.
While Spain should top the group, perhaps Portugal have enough defensive problems to think that Morocco may be worth chancing to qualify behind Spain.
The Group B straight forecast odds for that to happen are 6/1. Spain to take top spot at the expense of Portugal is 13/10 favourite in that market.
