Russia 2018 at a glance: Group A & Group B

The 2018 FIFA World Cup is fast approaching. We take a look at the different teams in the different groups of the World Cup. Here, we take a look at the teams of Group A and Group B.

GROUP A

RUSSIA

RANKING: 70

2014 RESULT: Group stage

MANAGER

Stanislav Cherchesov, who played in two World Cups as a goalkeeper. He managed Polish side Legia Warsaw to a domestic double in 2016, earning him the Russian coaching job.

KEY PLAYER

Igor Akinfeev. The goalkeeper, who is also the team’s captain, is a solid player. But he has a penchant to stumble at key moments, which could prove to be costly at home.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Many consider 22-year-old midfielder Aleksandr Golovin as the best of Russia’s young generation of players. The CSKA Moscow player is technically strong and a man to watch.

PROSPECTS

Playing at home, the Russians will be under immense pressure. They are likely to get out of the group stage, but it is not a given. They will be keen to avoid the fate of South Africa, who in 2010 became the first host side to not get out of the group stage.

SAUDI ARABIA

RANKING: 67

2014 RESULT: Did not qualify

MANAGER

Juan Antonio Pizzi, who is a former Spanish international, was in charge of Chile when they won the 2016 Copa America title. He failed to qualify them for Russia 2018 and the Saudi Arabians hired his services.

KEY PLAYER:

With 16 goals, striker Mohammad Al Sahlawi was joint top-scorer in the qualification stage and he is going to be a solid player for the Middle Eastern side.

PLAYER TO WATCH:

Fahad Al Muwallad is a 23-year-old forward who has so far scored 10 times for his country. He could be a breakout player for his country.

PROSPECTS:

Their tournament-opening game against hosts Russia is going to decide where they eventually finish. A last-place finish is a distinct possibility.

EGYPT

RANKING: 45

2014 RESULT: Did not qualify

MANAGER

Argentinian coach Hector Cuper is quite experienced. He took Spanish side Valencia to back-to-back Champions League finals in 2000 and 2001. He surprisingly also took unfancied Real Majorca to the last European Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1999.

KEY PLAYER

Mohamed Salah is a superstar who has made his name with Liverpool. He was instrumental in helping his club side reach this year’s Champions League final. He also spearheaded Egypt’s campaign to help them qualify for the FIFA World Cup after a 28-year gap.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Mahmoud Ibrahim Hassan, a 23-year-old midfielder who goes by the name Trezeguet due to his resemblance with the former French star, is the player to watch out for.

PROSPECTS

The team has some strong players, who if they mesh together and play well, can easily help their side to at least a second place in the group.

URUGUAY

RANKING: 14

2014 RESULT: Last 16

MANAGER

Oscar Tabarez, affectionately known as El Maestro or The Teacher, has been ion charge of the team, for the last 12 years. This is his fourth World Cup with the team. He coached Uruguay during the 1990 World Cup in Italy. The 71-year-old is vastly experienced and holds the record for the most number of games coached by a national team manager — 141.

KEY PLAYER

Spanish Club FC Barcelona’s star player Luis Suarez will be the playmaker for the side. He scored 31 goals and made 18 assists at Barcelona last season, en route to the team’s domestic double. He is also Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Rodrigo Bentancur, who helped Italian side Juventus to Serie A and Coppa Italia titles, will be the breakout player. The 20-year-old is likely to help his team go places.

PROSPECTS

They are the team which are most likely to top Group A. Progress to the last eight will not be too much for them.

Group B

SPAIN

RANKING: 10 

2014 RESULT: Exited at group stage

MANAGER

There was a huge vacuum that was created when Vicente del Bosque retired in 2016. Julen Lopetegui, who spent eight years overseeing upcoming Spanish players, was promoted to the top spot soon after.

KEY PLAYER

There are so many individual superstars that it is difficult to pick one man. However, captain and defender Sergio Ramos has more than 150 international caps to back him up. He has also won a World Cup and two European Championships.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Marco Asensio has been playing an important role at Real Madrid and the Russian World Cup will prove to be his first stint with the senior national team. He has the potential to surprise everyone. 

PROSPECTS

They came to the 2014 World Cup as champions, but left as losers after exiting in the group stage. They will keen to do better this time. A place in the quarterfinal seems quite easy, but beyond that will become much tougher.

MOROCCO

RANKING: 41 

2014 RESULT: Did not qualify

MANAGER

Frenchman Herve Renard is known as an African specialist. He helped Zambia (2012) and Ivory Coast (2015) win the Africa Cup of Nations. He will be at the helm as Morocco appears in a World Cup for the first time in 20 years.

KEY PLAYER

Medhi Benatia is the team’s captain and the most well-known figure. He is a centre-half and is coming to the tournament on a high, after helping Juventus win the Italian league and cup double.

PLAYER TO WATCH

21-year-old Sofyan Amrabat, who impressed with Dutch side Feyenoord, has earned five caps with his country. He could be a player to watch out for.

PROSPECTS

Unless a miracle happens, they will exit the World Cup in the group stage itself.

PORTUGAL

RANKING: 4

2014 RESULT: Exited in the group stage.

MANAGER

Fernando Santos has quite a portfolio in managing international teams. He guided Greece to Euro 2012 and the knockout stages of the 2014 World Cup. He took charge of the national team in 2014 and took them to glory at Euro 2016.

KEY PLAYER

It will undoubtedly be a man who goes by the name Cristiano Ronaldo. The Real Madrid superstar has been a prolific scorer for both club and country. Even at 33, he is a powerhouse of talent. He scored 15 goals during World Cup qualification.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Andre Silva combined effortlessly with Cristiano to score nine times during the qualification campaign. Having had a disappointing club season with AC Milan, he will have a point to prove in Russia.

PROSPECTS

They will challenge Spain for top spot in Group B. However, they are unlikely to repeat their heroics from 2016.

IRAN

RANKING: 37 

2014 RESULT: Exited in group stage

MANAGER

Carlos Queiroz first became famous as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United. He is Iran’s longest-serving national coach (since April, 2011) and the only man to guide them to consecutive World Cups.

KEY PLAYER

Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who is one of the best players in the Dutch League, is linked with a move to Italian side Napoli. He will have a point to prove in Russia.

PLAYER TO WATCH

21-year-old midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi played on loan at Amkar Perm in Russia. In 2015, he became the youngest-ever scorer in Iran’s history when he did so at 19 years and 42 days. A very tall player, he has superiority in aerial moves.

PROSPECTS

The Iranians are unlikely to trouble the big guns in the group. Their campaign is highly likely to end in the group phase.