Cup groups A and B are predictable

Group A Uruguay (ranked 14th by Fifa), Egypt (45th), Saudi Arabia (67th), Russia (70th).

The first thing you need to know about group A is that it’s not a good group. That’s what happens when the World Cup is hosted by a below average football nation, in this case Russia, though, in fairness, it would have been bold to predict such a steady decline for them in 2010, when they were awarded the tournament.

Russia are ranked 70th in the world by Fifa and are the lowest of the 32 teams who have qualified. Next up the list is Saudi Arabia, also in group A and ranked 67th. Egypt are ranked 45th, but should be favoured to advance, and if Uruguay, ranked

14th, don’t top this group, then something’s gone wrong somewhere.

The opening matches will be pivotal. Russia and Saudi Arabia get the World Cup underway on Friday [3am NZ time]. It’s not a contest worth setting your alarm for, but the loser can probably start packing their bags. Then comes Uruguay against Egypt the following day [12am NZ time], where the winner – if there is one – will become the favourite to top the group.

One wrinkle might be if Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah is not fit, following the shoulder injury he suffered playing for Liverpool in the Uefa Champions League final last month. Without him operating at

100 per cent in their attacking ranks, Egypt could be vulnerable to a plucky Russia or Saudi Arabia, but should still fancy their chances of progressing.

Key match: Egypt v Uruguay; Saturday, June 16, 1am [NZ time]. Should decide who gets top spot, and the easier round of 16 match – on paper anyway.

Predicted qualifiers: Uruguay, Egypt.

Group B Portugal (4th), Spain (10th), Iran (37th), Morocco (41st).

This group might not be the tightest in a football sense, but it is the tightest in a geographical sense, with Portugal and Spain neighbours on the Iberian Peninsula, Morocco just across the Strait of Gibraltar in Africa, and Iran only a short distance away – in global terms – over in the Middle East.

Portugal, the reigning European champions, and Spain, having rebounded from their group stage exit four years ago, will be the favourites to advance, especially as they are both ranked inside the world’s top 10. They should have too much firepower – and too much big-game experience – for their rivals from Africa and Asia. An African nation has made the round of 16 at each World Cup since 1986, and two of them advanced for the first time in Brazil in 2014, but Morocco don’t appear a leading contender to carry that torch this time around.

Iran are a stronger chance for an upset, playing with a dour, defensive approach that favours not conceding over scoring – though they did run rampant when faced with weak opposition early on in Asian qualifying. They only conceded five times in 18 matches – three times in eight in the final stage, with the minnows eliminated – and putting up stiff resistance will be their best chance of making some noise.

Portugal were underwhelming in winning Euro 2016 – they advanced as one of the best third-placed teams, with three draws, then needed extra time, twice, and penalties, once, in their run to the title. Similar efforts this time around could leave them ripe for the picking – they play Iran in their final match, which could end up being a decider, depending on earlier results.

Key match: Iran v Portugal; Tuesday, June 26, 6am [NZ time]. If there’s going to be an upset in this group, it will likely involve Iran winning this one.

Predicted qualifiers: Spain, Portugal.