FIFA World Cup 2018™: 'Group B' Tactical Preview

Iran qualified from the AFC third round unbeaten topping a group including South Korea and Syria Sardar as moon the Rubin Kazan striker scored 11 goals in AFC qualifying this will be around fifth World Cup appearance following their debut in 1978 and their first back-to-back former Real Madrid and Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz saw his side only score one goal at the 2014 World Cup netted by razor couch and shad against Bosnia and Herzegovina but this version of the team does have more attacking potential even with as moon out of favor at Rubin crush has created an organized defensively effective team that played a 433 with a midfielder who sits deep in front of the back for the team takes up a 4-1 4-1 pose in the mid block and try to win the ball aggressively the widest central midfielders tend to stay quite narrow to congest the midfield area while the full-backs push up Iran prefer to go long with vertical passing into the corners for the winners they also have one outstanding player ali reza Jahan Bosh a two footed winger who plays across the front line Iran will look to release him one-on-one with the opposition fall back before he crosses towards as moon or méditerranée if Iran attack on the right the left hand central midfielder will push up to create a 4 to 4 shape that's slightly lopsided Jehan Bosch is the one to watch while the relatively inexperienced but talented centre back or defensive midfielder Roos bekhesh me can impress if given a chance Iran's World Cup is likely to be short-lived though and they'll struggle to emerge from a seriously tough group Morocco will be appearing at their fifth tournament and their first since 1998 when they went out in the group stage despite only losing to Brazil to get to russia 2018 Morocco topped a very difficult group without conceding seeing off of the Ivory Coast and Gabon Carli butl netted four in the group stages including a hat-trick at home took upon the Lions of the Atlas are managed by Aaron art who is the only manager to win the Africa Cup of Nations with two different nations Zambia and the Ivory Coast the side are captained by Juventus centre-back Madiba and play a 4-3-3 with one of the central midfielders pushing up to support attacks from the whole fire noughts Karim Allah Mahdi is a good defensive midfielder while Al Jazeera's mbaku sofa pulls the strings with long passing remains seis who plays as a defensive midfielder for wolves has been used at centre-back showing Renard's desire to pass long and accurately from the back out wide IX is hakam's iock is the key creative player well northern amitabha has quality and yuna spell honda can play wide or push up from midfield morocco will defend well then looked at breakup pace while Ziya can benattia are the standout players in a cosmopolitan squad watch out for Al mean hurry the shell command fielder represented France at youth level and is a tricky creative attacking midfielder who could make a real impression this summer Morocco will look to secure their third ever World Cup win against Iran and could spring a surprise despite being in a group with Portugal and Spain Portugal breezed through UEFA qualification losing only their first away game against Switzerland Cristiano Ronaldo scored two hat-tricks on his way to 15 goals while AC Milan's Andre silver bag 9 under Fernando Santos the European champions have become granite-like only losing once in 29 competitive games route Patricio is a very capable keeper who excels at penalties while the two first-choice centre-back s' to have safe fun and Pepe while at 34 and 35 respectively are very experienced Portugal play a lopsided 442 the left midfielder either xuo Mario or Manuel Fernandez tucks in and is a frequent out ball for the centre backs in possession the right midfielder Bernardo silver or Ricardo Quaresma pushes up more while the full-backs looks at getting high and overlap on the left or support on the right Ronaldo drops deep to collect the ball while simultaneously trying to be the frontman this may be why while Portugal sometimes play an attacking midfielder off Ronaldo in the 10 role such as sportings Bruna Fernandez they will likely use Andre Silva to play up alongside Ronaldo and act as a focal point Portugal will press aggressively an attack from wide with the aim being crosses to silver or any kind of ball to renowned well Portugal could be seen as a one-man team bernardo silver possesses huge talent while new Lester right back Ricardo Pereira can impress if picked ahead of Cedric the European champions should progress from this group but they could be on the end of an upset if Ronaldo has an off day and the center backs show their age julen low Pataki steered his Spain sign through qualifying without a hitch which is hardly a surprise given that Spain have qualified for every major tournament since Euro 96 without defeat Spain had four players score 5 in qualification including Alvaro Murata who didn't even make the cut many of the golden generation who won back-to-back European Championships in the World Cup in 2010 are still present on the race Iniesta sergio ramos gerard piqué and sergio busquets started in 2010 and will likely start in russia spain's possession based for 33 with the screening midfielder to advanced playmakers in 8 to 10 roles either side and creative attacking white players who tuck in and drop off is familiar and the issue with Spain is less understanding what they do and more trying to stop it Spain do have some selection issues though should Iniesta start ahead of Koki or Isco or will it go play in one of the forward flanking roles meaning this Spain will not be able to play with any natural wingers width will largely come from fullbacks though with jordi alba especially keen to get forwards Diego Costa is an abrasive presence up front while Iago Espace offers more guile as a sort of false line Spain are strong throughout daheia is perhaps the world's best goalkeeper on current form while defenders as good as say sir as but a quitter are even unlikely to start the squad is full of trickery and invention as shown in the friendly 6:1 drubbing of Argentina should Spain struggle it will be because they cannot break down sides who sit very deep and allow them possession but passage from the group should be assured and Spain are certainly among the best three UEFA teams in Russia and the best 5 overall you [Music] you