Loaded group p features one of world’s most t decorated players in Ronaldo, plus two top-10 teams with legitimate aspirations of winning a World Cup
IRAN ODDS: 750/1 2014: Group stage FORMATION: 4-3-3 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Rubin
Kazan’s Sardar
Azmoun is just 23 but arguably Iran’s most accomplished player. With right wing
Alireza Jahanbakhsh — only 24 — and center forward Karim Ansarifard, they have some attacking options, evidenced by going undefeated through 18 games in qualifying. But can they get Azmoun and Ansarifard on the field together in a 4-2-3-1?
OUTLOOK: Coach Carlos Queiroz is aiming for the knockout rounds, saying Iran “will not go to Russia as tourists.” The Portuguese may go as a swan song. After becoming the first coach to secure World Cup qualification five times — Carlos Alberto Pereira and Bora Milutinovic took over teams that already had qualified — Queiroz is stepping down after Iran gave him just a six-month extension. MOROCCO ODDS: 400/1 2014: Did not qualify FORMATION: 4-1-4-1 PLAYERS TO
WATCH: A talent infusion got Morocco back to the World Cup for the first time since 1998. Captain Medhi Benatia (right) from Juventus is a stalwart in defense, while attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyach from Ajax is back after a spat with French manager Herve Renard.
Amine Harit, just 20, can play in the middle or wide right and might be their most gifted player. OUTLOOK: Schalke’s Harit is a pacy dribbler, and Galatasaray’s Younes Belhanda, Fenerbahce’s Nabil Dirar and Feyenoord’s Karim El
Ahmadi offer options in midfield. Their odds aren’t good, but they will bring a little flair and flavor to the group. PORTUGAL ODDS: 16/1 2014: Group stage FORMATION: 4-2-3-1 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Let’s be real. It’s player. Singular. And his name is Cristiano Ronaldo. The Real Madrid superstar won his record fifth UEFA Champions League title — third in a row — and has a record-tying five Ballon d’Or awards. But this is his last best shot at adding a World Cup. He may want to play into his 40s, but at 33 he won’t get a better opportunity than this. OUTLOOK: Portugal showed mettle in beating host France in the 2016 Euro final, overcoming CR7’s injury thanks to a defense led by Besiktas centerback Pepe and coach Fernando Santos’ disciplined tactics. But to win they will need support on the left wing by young
Goncalo Guedes and key minutes from Andre Silva.
SPAIN ODDS: 5/1 2014: Group stage FORMATION: 4-3-3 PLAYERS TO WATCH: David
de Gea of Manchester United is likely the world’s best keeper, while centerback Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique (Shakira’s husband) anchors the defense. Andres Iniesta’s sublime passing and the support from rising stars Isco and Marco Asensio give Spain a wealth of attacking prowess — even after snubbing Chelsea’s
Alvaro Morata and NYCFC’s David Villa.
OUTLOOK: Spain will have to win without coach
Julen Lopetegui, who was fired Wednesday on the eve of the tournament in stunning fashion after agreeing to take over Real Madrid. On the pitch, this tourney will be a requiem for Spain’s Golden Generation like Iniesta, Ramos and David
Silva. With strikers Morata and Villa left home, Diego
Costa is going to have to lead up front.