FIFA World Cup 2018: Top 5 Group-Stage Matches to Watch Out For

May 21, 2018 at 11:46 PM

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FIFA World Cup 2018: Top 5 Group-Stage Matches to Watch Out For

Less than one month to go for world’s most significant sports event and it needs no saying every match of the FIFA World Cup 2018 is breathtaking and full of excitement. The global event would commence on June 14th in Russia.

But among them, there are some matches the world is eagerly waiting to happen in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2018.

Therefore, let’s have a look at the top five group-stage matches to look out for.

FIFA 2018 World Cup Groups:

Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay
Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran
Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark
Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea
Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

5. Russia vs Saudi Arabia

Russia, the hosts of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, will be up against Saudi Arabia in the first match of the tournament and just like every other World Cup’s opening match, the hype and excitement are expected to be on another level.

Considering both the team’s FIFA ranking, it is also expected to be a neck to neck encounter between the two sides. Both sides clashed against each other only once before, and Saudi Arabia won the match by a mammoth 4-2 score.

FIFA Ranking: Russia 66, Saudi Arabia 67
Head to Head: Russia 0, Saudi Arabia 1
Overall form: Russia – L L D L D, Saudi Arabia – W W L D L 

4. Egypt vs Uruguay

The 2nd match of the FIFA World Cup 2018 will be between Egypt and Uruguay, and in other words, it will be a massive clash between Mohammad Salah and Luis Suarez.

Salah’s brilliance guided Egypt to the World Cup and the world will be looking if he can keep his form going in the grandest stage of them all. The teams played only once before back in 2006 in a friendly encounter where Uruguay won by two goals to nil.

FIFA Ranking: Egypt 46, Uruguay 17
Head to Head: Egypt 0, Uruguay 1
Overall form: Egypt – L L D W W, Uruguay – L D W D W

3. Argentina vs Croatia

Though Argentina are favourites against Croatia, the probability of Croatia creating an upset cannot get ruled out.

With the likes of skipper Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Ivan Rakitic, Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic, Croatia is undoubtedly one of the most underrated teams of the FIFA World Cup 2018, and they have what it takes to create an upset.

On the other hand, the top stars of Argentina have struggled in the past to perform as a unit in bigger stages. The sides have clashed only once in World Cup which was in 1998 where Argentina won 1-0 against the red and white.

FIFA Ranking: Argentina 5, Croatia 18
Head to Head: Argentina 2, Croatia 1
Overall form: Argentina – L W L W W, Croatia – W L D W W

2. England vs Belgium

The battle between the 3rd placed Belgium, and the 13th placed England will be a battle to watch out for, a clash where some of the current top stars will battle against each other.

Despite Eden Hazard’s Belgium are one of the most consistent teams in the last few years; their nerves will get tested against a hungry England side.

Throughout the last few FIFA tournaments, England have failed to prove their worth over and over again despite having a star-studded team, and thus, they will be looking to answer all the critics, and nothing can be better if they can beat the in-form Belgium side.

An interesting stats between the two sides – out of the six matches they played against each other, four resulted in a draw while England won the other two.

FIFA Ranking: Belgium 3, England 13
Head to Head: Belgium 0, England 2
Overall form: Belgium – W W D W W, England – D W D D W

1. Spain vs Portugal 

The battle between Spain and Portugal tops the list where two main Real Madrid stars Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sergio Ramos will be defending their respective nation against each other.

Despite Spain having a squad depth with full of quality players, it might fail to matter if Ronaldo and his men can rise on the big occasion.

Both nations are very familiar with each other, as they have clashed against each other 36 times before with Spain leading by quite a huge margin.

Out of the 36 matches, Spain won 17 while Portugal only managed to win only six. Thirteen games resulted in a draw.

The world will be waiting to see their 37th match on the grandest stage and which is also arguably the most hyped-up group stage match of this year’s FIFA World Cup 2018.

FIFA Ranking: Spain 4, Portugal 8
Head to Head: Spain 17, Portugal 6
Overall form: Spain – W D D W W, Portugal – L W D W W

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