FIFA World Cup 2018: Most Important Players in Group B
Group B is slightly unbalanced, favouring the European giants Spain and Portugal as they have been drawn with Iran and Morocco. The mouth-watering group game between the Iberian rivals Spain and Portugal perhaps one of the most anticipated games of the group stages.
Portugal had major success at Euro 2016, beating France in the final to lift the trophy, but were knocked out at the group stage in the previous World Cup. The Seleção will be hoping to fare better in Russia than they did in Brazil 4 years ago. They will also find the familiar face of Carlos Queiroz helming a pragmatic and defensively resolute Iran side.
Queiroz will find it difficult to navigate a group containing Spain and reigning European Champions Portugal but will be looking forward to the game against Morocco to pick up some points. Morocco will need nothing short of a miracle to help them progress from this group.
Match to Watch: Portugal v Spain (15th June, 7 PM GMT).
#1 Portugal - Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo has already achieved one major honour with Portugal. They are the reigning European Champions as they defeated France in the final two years ago to win Euro 2016. The Portuguese forward will be searching for more records to break in Russia. Although he does not run the channels as often as he used to, he can rely on Bernardo Silva and the like, to create chances for him which he invariably will finish.
Ronaldo will be pivotal for Portugal in Russia, as his experience and capacity to lead from the front will make him Portugal's best chance of creating goal-scoring opportunities. Equipped with a very strong right foot and an equally powerful left foot, Ronaldo will be a threat from every angle.
While the whole world expects and backs Messi and his Argentina to have a good showing in Russia, expect Santos and his pragmatic Portugal, led by Ronaldo, to stun the world again in Russia as they did in France in 2016.
Notable Mention: André Silva