On Thursday June 14, the 2018 World Cup Finals will get underway in Russia, 
with the host nation taking on Saudi Arabia in the opening game. Over the month or so of tournament action 32 teams will compete, initially in a Group Phase and then in a knockout tournament to decide who will succeed Germany as the current World Cup holders.
Of course, such a huge sporting event means that there will be plenty of keen interest in the games taking place, not just those involving England, the only team from the Home Nations to make it through to Russia.
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In this first of two articles previewing the opening group stages of the tournament, we are going to take a look at the sixteen teams competing in Groups A, B, C and D and we will give you our take on the teams in each group, as well as a tip to win the group and which two teams we think will qualify from that group to reach the second phase of the tournament.
Let’s begin with Group A which features the tournament hosts. All odds shown are provided by Coral Sport and were correct at the time of publication.
Group A
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Russia
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Uruguay
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Egypt
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Saudi Arabia
Group A Winner Odds – Uruguay 4/5, Russia 8/5, Egypt 11/2, Saudi Arabia 33/1
- Our Tips to Qualify from Group A
Uruguay
Veteran coach Oscar Tabarez has an incredibly talented and experienced squad to pick from at this World Cup. Few teams have two defenders of the quality of Atletico Madrid pair Jose Giminez and Diego Godin, while perhaps only Argentina can claim to have two better strikers than Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. However, the rest of the Uruguayan squad, isn’t anywhere near as talented and it will likely be how this quartet play which defines how well they do in Russia. I do however, expect them to top Group A. Key Man – Luis Suarez (Barcelona)
Russia
The Russian side are in the rare position of being hosts but not even favourites to win their group due to the strength of Uruguay, particularly in attack and defence. Manager Stanislav Cherchesov has picked a team containing just two players playing outside Russia at the moment and in truth, neither are likely to start their opening game with Saudi Arabia. Russia will need at least one win from their opening games against Saudi Arabia and Egypt in order to stand a chance of progressing and I think they will just about do enough to get out of the group. Key Man – Alain Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow)
- Our Tips to be Eliminated from Group A
Egypt
Hector Cuper will be hoping that talismanic striker Mohamed Salah will recover in time from his shoulder injury to spearhead Egypt’s attack at the World Cup, but the Liverpool man remains a doubt at least for the opening game against Uruguay. There are seven English-based players in the squad including West Brom’s coveted centre back Ahmed Hegazi. Egypt will likely beat Saudi Arabia, but their fate will likely be sealed by how they perform against the host nation, and in truth, with Russia being on home soil, I think that puts Egpyt at a distinct disadvantage, even if they do have Mo Salah fit for that game. Key Man – Mo Salah (Liverpool)
Saudi Arabia
Ex-Spanish international Juan Antonio Pizzi’s squad doesn’t have a household name amongst them and in truth, they are the massive underdogs in this group. Wins against Algeria and Greece in the warm up to the World Cup were followed by defeats to Italy and Peru and in truth, I would be surprised if Saudi Arabia earn a point at the finals. Key Man – Mohammed Al-Sahlawi (Al-Nassr)
Group B
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Spain
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Portugal
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Morocco
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Iran
Group B Winner Odds – Spain 1/2, Portugal 2/1, Morocco 14/1, Iran 25/1
- Our Tips to Qualify from Group B
Spain
Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui surprised a few people with the players left out of his Spanish squad but the Spanish have been in superb form coming into the finals and they have an incredible squad packed with experience and talent including four players with over 100 caps and one more (Pique) that will likely join that club at the finals. They should have more than enough to win this group and I would expect them to go deep into this tournament. Key Man – Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)
Portugal
Fernando Santos has called up a number of younger players alongside some vastly experienced veterans, two of whom have over 100 caps, in what should be a strong Portuguese squad heading into the World Cup. The European Champions have Cristiano Ronaldo in tow and his record of 81 international goals from 149 caps is stunning. However they do have an ageing squad with many of their first choice players the wrong side of 30. They won’t beat Spain, but they should get enough against Morocco and Iran to make it through. Key Man – Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
- Our Tips to be Eliminated from Group B
Morocco
Herve Renard has won the African Cup of Nations with two different teams and now takes Morocco into the World Cup Finals. The team has some talented youngsters, such as Real Madrid defender Achraf Hakimi and Lille full back Hamza Mendyl, and young striker Ayoub El Kaabi who has netted 11 goals in just 9 appearances so far for his country. Add to that a number of players with experience across Europe and I think Morocco will come third in this group but will push Portugal hard for second spot. Key Man – Hakim Ziyech (Ajax)
Iran
Former Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz has done well to bring Iran to the World Cup at all and they are not a bad team at all, I just feel that they are not likely to get anything against Spain or Portugal and as a result, their only chance of a point comes against Morocco in their opening game. They could well earn a point there if Morocco fail to play to their best but I think that is about the best they can hope for. Striker Sardar Azmoun however is one to watch. Key Man – Sardar Azmoun (Rubin Kazan)
Group C
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France
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Denmark
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Peru
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Australia
Group C Winner Odds – France 3/10, Denmark 9/2, Peru 8/1, Australia 18/1
- Our Tips to Qualify from Group C
France
Didier Deschamps massively talented and deep squad is one of the favourites for this summer’s finals and with the quality in the squad (and indeed left out of it), it is easy to see why. They are not at full strength in defence with Laurent Koscielny missing out, but have some outstanding young talent, full of pace and skill, to play alongside veterans like Griezmann, Giroud, Matuidi and Nzonzi. France should win all three of their group games but they could well face a severe test in the knockout phase if they do. Key Man – Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
Denmark
Whilst not having the attacking flair of some famous Danish sides of the past, The 2018 Denmark squad does boast one real world class talent in midfielder Christian Eriksen and how well he plays may well determine how far Denmark go. The Danes do blow hot and cold and I can see them losing to but I think they will get just enough from the games with Peru and Australia to make the second phase, though I don’t expect it to be a comfortable ride for Danish fans. Key Man – Christian Eriksen (Tottenham)
- Our Tips to be Eliminated from Group C
Australia
Bert van Marwijk will know his Australian teams are the rank outsiders in Group C, but in past World Cup’s, the Aussies have surpassed themselves and I think they could cause Denmark and Peru a few problems here and maybe push the Danes hard for that qualifying spot. Tim Cahill may be 38, but he has 50 goals for his country and in Celtic’s Tom Rogic and Huddersfield’s Aaron Mooy, they have two talented central midfielders. They’ll go better than expected but I think will fall just short in the group stages. Key Man – Tom Rogic (Celtic)
Peru
Ricardo Gareca’s squad is drawn from all over the globe with just five players playing their football in their native country. The squad does have plenty of experience with several players in their early to mid-thirties. However, Peru traditionally do not travel well outside of South America and while their results in warm up have been good, I am not convinced they have the qualities to threaten the top teams in Group C in Russia. Key Man – Paulo Guerrero (Flamego)
Group D
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Argentina
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Croatia
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Nigeria
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Iceland
Group D Winner Odds – Argentina 4/7, Croatia 12/5, Nigeria 9/1, Iceland 11/1
- Our Tips to Qualify from Group D
Argentina
For all their attacking brilliance (and Argentina have left attacking players out of the squad that would walk into almost any other national team’s first XI), Argentina’s defensive woes are still Jorge Sampaoli’s biggest worry ahead of the World Cup. A 6-1 defeat by Spain highlighted those problems a few months back and in truth, they can’t do an awful lot to rectify that with personnel. However, any team that boasts Di Maria, Higuain, Dybala, Aguero and of course Lionel Messi, is always going to be a massive threat. They’ll win Group D I feel, but it will be closer than many people think. Key Man – Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Croatia
I think Croatia and Iceland will be battling hard for second spot in a very tough Group D but I think Croatia’s greater experience and talent will be the difference. The Croatians finished behind Iceland in the group stages in European qualifying but I think in the World Cup, that experience is far more crucial. Zlatko Dalic will know his squad have immense talent with the likes of Modric, Rakitic, Mandzukic and Perisic and if they play well, they could even threaten Argentina for top spot in the group. The game between the two should be a cracker. Key Man – Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
- Our Tips to be Eliminated from Group D
Iceland
I have to admit, this decision between Iceland and Croatia was the most difficult in the top four groups. Iceland outperformed Croatia in their group in qualifying and had a stellar Euro 2016 tournament. However, I think that ‘surprise’ element that worked in their favour is gone and as France showed in that tournament, defensively, the top teams can find them out. With Croatia having some vastly talented and experienced attackers, I have gone for them just to grab the second qualifying spot here, but it should be mightily close. Key Man – Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
Nigeria
Of the four teams in Group D, I think Nigeria are undeniably the weakest, although they would likely challenge in some of the other groups in the tournament. Gernot Rohr’s men will get a point or two from some games, most likely Iceland or Croatia, but they also have a good record against Argentina, something that the manager will be keen to exploit. That said, despite a talented squad, this isn’t a stellar Nigerian team and I can’t see them getting enough points to make it through to the second phase. Key Man – Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow)
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