During the World Cup’s Group Stage, the field of 32 teams is divided into eight groups. These eight groups, labeled alphabetically A-H, conduct individual round-robin tournaments between the four teams. The top two teams from each group advance to the Knockout Stage.
How are World Cup Groups Determined
The groups are formed based on a number of variables including geographical criteria and random draws.
The four teams in each group are assigned a seeding. There are predetermined No. 1 seeds, which include the host country, but the remaining 2-4 seeds are placed into hierarchy by using the FIFA World Rankings and recent World Cup performances.
Each team in every group plays the other three teams once so that there is a total of six matches played in each group. Within the group tournament, teams are awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a loss.
The top two point-getters from the group advance to the Knockout State of the World Cup. In the event of a tie, there are multiple tiebreakers in place to determine which teams move on to the next round.
2018 FIFA World Cup Group B Odds
The 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place in Russia from June 14, 2018, through July 15, 2018, so here on GetMoreSports you can check out our betting tips and predictions for all four national soccer teams from Group B – Portugal, Spain, Iran and Morocco.
In this preview, we will take a closer look at all four sides in the Group B, and see who are favorites to reach the second round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, while the bettors can find all odds for group winners and first-round games on BetDSI Sportsbook.
Group B Schedule
| Date | HOME | AWAY | 1 | X | 2 | O/U 2.5 Goals |
| 6/15/2018 | Morocco | Iran | +130 | +180 | +260 | +170/-225 |
| 6/15/2018 | Portugal | Spain | +300 | +250 | -110 | +125/-163 |
| 6/20/2018 | Portugal | Morocco | -163 | +260 | +500 | +120/-154 |
| 6/20/2018 | Iran | Spain | +1800 | +500 | -550 | -125/+100 |
| 6/25/2018 | Spain | Morocco | -275 | +375 | +750 | -106/-118 |
| 6/25/2018 | Iran | Portugal | +750 | +375 | -275 | +105/-134 |
FIFA World Cup Group B Odds Predictions
Portugal vs. Spain Betting Preview and Free Pick
Morocco vs. Iran Betting Preview and Free Pick
FIFA World Cup Group B Team Previews and Players to Watch
PORTUGAL
After becoming the European champions in 2016 for the first time in the history, Portugal is coming to Russia as a +1200 favorite to reach the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final, although some pundits don’t consider them among the biggest favorites to win the title. This will be Portugal’s seventh partaking on the biggest stage, and their best result was the third place in England 1966, while four years ago in Brazil, Cristiano Ronaldo, and co. finished their journey after the group phase.
As Cristiano Ronaldo is still one of the best players in the world, he will be a leader of this Portugal team, and when you have a guy in the squad who’s bagged 81 goals in 149 caps in the national team’s jersey, everything is possible. The bookies are pretty sure they will make it to the second round here, while the market on Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Golden Boot is set at +1400. Portugal prefers a high pressure with a 4-3-3 formation, so their teamwork could be crucial in an eventual drive to the success.
Head Coach: Fernando Santos
Players to Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, Gelson Martins
World Cup Odds: +2500
Group B Odds: +550
Group Qualification Yes/No: -450/+333
SPAIN
The Red Fury is arguably the strongest team in the Group B of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and at this moment they are the third biggest favorite to lift the FIFA World Cup Trophy, right after Brazil and Germany. At the previous tournament in Brazil, Spaniards were humiliated, ending their campaign after the group stage with one win and two losses, so this time the fans expect to see a strong performance by the one-time world champions from 2010.
Some players who made it in South Africa eight years ago are still with the national team, and this experience should be a huge advantage, while some young lions such as Real Madrid’s Isco and Marco Asensio are ready to shine on the biggest stage. Spain still cherishes a short-passing style of play specially called Tiki-taka, always trying to keep the ball in the possession and control the flow of the game, so the bettors should keep track of the Red Fury, as it’s surely one of the strongest teams in the world capable of going all the way.
Head Coach: Fernando Hierro
Players to Watch: Isco, David Silva, Diego Costa
World Cup Odds: +600
Group B Odds: +550
Group Qualification Yes/No: -1600/+900
IRAN
Some experts consider this generation of Team Melli as one of the most talented in the history of Iran’s soccer, and in the previous four appearances at the FIFA World Cup, Iran couldn’t manage to qualify for the knock-out phase, recording only one victory in the process in France 1998. In Brazil 2014, Team Melli earned one draw along with two losses, while this summer in Russia, they are set as +550 underdogs to reach the second round, particularly due to a tough draw and a stiff competition in the Group B.
Iran is a defensive-minded team with an exceptional work rate, and their defensive movement makes them a quite difficult opponent to beat. Led by the Portuguese tactician Carlos Queiroz for more than seven years now, Iran’s players are well-trained and disciplined, knowing always what they need to do on the pitch. The bookies are pretty sure we wouldn’t see many goals on their matches in Russia, and if Team Melli avoid the defeat in their opening game against Morocco, the bettors should pay attention to their second match against Portugal.
Head Coach: Carlos Queiroz
Players to Watch: Karim Ansarifard, Masoud Shoajei, Reza Ghoochannejhad
World Cup Odds: +50000
Group B Odds: +550
Group Qualification Yes/No: +550/-900
MOROCCO
The Atlas Lions roar again after a twenty-year drought, and this will be their fifth involvement at the FIFA World Cup, reaching the last 16 only in Mexico 1986. Morocco had an excellent qualifying campaign for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, recording three wins and three draws in a difficult group, and finishing ahead of Ivory Coast while keeping their net intact in all six qualifying matches. However, they will have a tough task to finish in the top two here, whilst the bettors can check out the markets for any further progress on BetDSI Sportsbook, as they are quite tempting.
Morocco possesses a well-organized defense, and their tactical setups look solid, as they prefer a high pressure without a ball on their feet, but their attacking ability is limited due to a lack of the world-class striker. In the midfield, the Atlas Lions have some guys who are strong on the ball, while Younes Belhanda and Mbark Boussoufa are both skillful players capable of making scoring opportunities. Although the bookmakers don’t expect to see a bunch of goals on Morocco’s games, the bettors could try to beat the lines betting on the over, particularly in the clashes against Spain and Portugal.
Head Coach: Herve Renard
Players to Watch: Hakim Ziyech, Younes Belhanda, Medhi Benatia
World Cup Odds: +50000
Group B Odds: +550
Group Qualification Yes/No: +400/-600
