Group B Preview
A Boufal-less Morocco and Iran will be kicking off this group at 4pm (BST) today in Saint Petersburg (is he one of ours too?) but the biggest game so far will see reigning European champions Portugal (and our Cédric) taking on the might of Spain this evening in Sochi. I won’t be home from work in time to watch the Morocco v Iran game (fortunately?) but Portugal v Spain looks very tasty so I plan to be in situ for that one.
Cédric could well be lining up at the back for Portugal alongside Fonte, who has been on the decline for the last few years and counting his money in China for the last few months. You would have to fancy Spain’s attacking players to give Portugal’s doddery defence a hard time but the Spanish squad’s preparations may have been unsettled by the unscheduled departure of Lopetegui to Real Madrid. Why he and they couldn’t wait a month to announce his arrival (or inform the Spanish Football Federation that they were in discussions) is anyone’s guess. I blame Franco.
Portugal’s defence won them the European Championship in 2016 but that was probably their pinnacle. Ronaldo is always going to be a threat but he will need some ammunition. At least he won’t have to worry about being overshadowed by Gareth Bale in this competition.
As long as Spain can get on with the job under Hierro then they should walk this group. I suspect Morocco and Iran will give Portugal some trouble but they should still finish second with the other two fighting it out for third spot. Today’s match is a wooden spoon encounter for them.
Cédric could well be lining up at the back for Portugal alongside Fonte, who has been on the decline for the last few years and counting his money in China for the last few months. You would have to fancy Spain’s attacking players to give Portugal’s doddery defence a hard time but the Spanish squad’s preparations may have been unsettled by the unscheduled departure of Lopetegui to Real Madrid. Why he and they couldn’t wait a month to announce his arrival (or inform the Spanish Football Federation that they were in discussions) is anyone’s guess. I blame Franco.
Portugal’s defence won them the European Championship in 2016 but that was probably their pinnacle. Ronaldo is always going to be a threat but he will need some ammunition. At least he won’t have to worry about being overshadowed by Gareth Bale in this competition.
As long as Spain can get on with the job under Hierro then they should walk this group. I suspect Morocco and Iran will give Portugal some trouble but they should still finish second with the other two fighting it out for third spot. Today’s match is a wooden spoon encounter for them.
