World Cup Group B Previews, Tickets & Predictions
England
The English go into this World Cup with a side full of stars and a manager who knows his way around major tournaments. With Harry Kane banging in the goals and an embarrassment of riches in midfield, England look like real contenders for this year’s World Cup.
Their relative weakness lies at the heart of their defence, with Harry Maguire’s form consistently inconsistent. There are also questions around the goalkeeper position, as Jordan Pickford has had a season to forget. All England World Cup tickets can be found here, including for the knockout stages should the team qualify.
Nonetheless, they should have enough to get out of this group without much issue.
Key Player: Harry Kane has rediscovered the form that made him one of the most feared forwards in world football. If England are going to lift the trophy, they will need him to be at his best.
Group prediction: 1st
Iran
Iran has qualified for the last three World Cups and will be expecting a strong push to get out of this group. They will be targeting their games against the USA and the playoff winners as opportunities to get points on the board.
Sardar Azmoun is a decent striker, who plays for Bayer Leverkusen, but it is Mehdi Taremi who is the true star of the team. He has been knocking in the goals for Porto this season and will relish facing the world’s best defences at the World Cup.
Iran will go into this group as underdogs, but don’t be surprised if they cause an upset or two.
Key Player: Mehdi Taremi is a goalscoring machine and will hope to replicate his form for Porto at this year’s tournament.
Prediction: 4th
USA
Has there ever been a more talented USA team? We are not so sure. They have two of the stars of the Champions League with Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) and Weston McKennie (Juventus) within their side. And that is not where the talent pool ends.
Look at any position on the pitch and you will find a player with talent, skill, and guile. Unlike at previous tournaments, the footballing public in the United States expect much more than qualification.
Their fans will expect them to get out of this group and go deep into the tournament and with this group of players, they might just do it.
Key Player: Chelsea playmaker, Christian Pulisic, would make it into any side at this tournament. He is a top class player, who has struggled with injuries. Keeping him fit will be key to the USA’s hopes. All US National Team World Cup tickets can be found here.
Prediction: 2nd
Ukraine/Scotland/Wales
With the conflict in the Ukraine, the playoff to decide the final placing in this group has been postponed. We reckon that Gareth Bale and his Welsh teammates will be the ones to make it to the tournament.
Wales are a good tournament side that are more than capable of competing with the very best sides out there. However, many of their better players are on the wrong side of 30 and they may struggle with the energy that the likes of England and the USA can bring to proceedings.
Scotland and the Ukraine will hope that those Welsh players don’t get the chance to test themselves on the World Cup stage this year.
Key Player: Aaron Ramsey pulls the strings for Wales and although he isn’t playing at the level he once was, he can still be an influential force for his national side.
Prediction: 3rd.
Group B will be sure to have some interesting games especially with the potential for either Wales, Scotland or even Ukraine to qualify. See all Group B tickets here on SafeTicketCompare.com
