Know it all about every team and group ahead of the World Cup

World Cup team profiles: Guides to all 32 nations, group betting odds & predictions

Football

Sun June 17, 2018 · 7y ago

Get the lowdown on every team at the 2018 World Cup with our comprehensive guide to all 32 sides taking part in Russia.

Click on each team name for their full profile

Group A teams, fixtures, odds & prediction

Profiles: Russia | Uruguay | Egypt | Saudi Arabia

Group Odds

Group Summary (Click for in-depth group analysis)

Uruguay should be comfortable enough getting through the group as the others aren't in the same league as Luis Suarez and friends. Egypt could have had half a chance of upsetting hosts Russia and pinching second but Mohamed Salah's injury will decide that, while Saudi Arabia are rightly 2/5 to finish bottom.

Click on the image for all you need to know about Uruguay

Fixtures:

Thursday June 14 - Russia vs Saudi Arabia, 4pm, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow.
Friday June 15 - Egypt vs Uruguay, 1pm, Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg.
Tuesday June 19 - Russia vs Egypt, 7pm, Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg
Wednesday June 20 - Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia, 4pm, Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don
Monday June 25 - Saudi Arabia vs Egypt, 3pm, Volgograd Arena, Volgograd
Monday June 25 - Uruguay vs Russia, 3pm, Samara Arena, Samara

Group B teams, fixtures, odds & prediction

Profiles: Spain | Portugal | Morocco | Iran

Group Odds

Group Summary (Click for in-depth group analysis)

A classic group of two halves that could be decided in the opening game as Iberian rivals Spain and Portugal clash that could settle who tops the standings. Morocco and Iran are no pushovers but will just not be able to make an impact on the big boys. If Spain and Portugal draw their opener it could be a case of how many they can score against the other two to decide the group winners.

Click on the image for all you need to know about Iran

Fixtures:

Friday June 15 - Morocco vs Iran, 4pm, Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg
Friday June 15 - Portugal vs Spain, 7pm, Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi
Wednesday June 20 - Portugal v Morocco, 1pm, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Wednesday June 20 - Iran vs Spain, 7pm, Kazan Arena, Kazan
Monday June 25 - Iran vs Portugal, 7pm, Mordovia Arena, Saransk
Monday June 25 - Spain vs Morocco, 7pm, Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad

Group C teams, fixtures, odds & prediction

Profiles: France | Denmark | Peru | Australia

Group Odds

Group Summary (Click for in-depth group analysis)

France big favourites for this one, and rightly so given the depth of quality in the squad and the big names they left out! It's an interesting heat behind them with Christian Eriksen's Denmark seen as the most likely to challenge ahead of unknown quantities Peru, who are back in the tournament after 36 years, and Australia, who could be worth a shout at 2/1 to finish third.

Click on the image for all you need to know about Peru

Fixtures:

Saturday June 16 - France vs Australia, 11am, Kazan Arena, Kazan
Saturday June 16 - Peru vs Denmark, 5pm, Mordovia Arena, Saransk
Thursday June 21 - Denmark vs Australia, 1pm, Samara Arena, Samara
Thursday June 21 - France vs Peru, 4pm, Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg
Tuesday June 26 - Australia vs Peru, 3pm, Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi
Tuesday June 26 - Denmark vs France, 3pm - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow

Group D teams, fixtures, odds & prediction

Profiles: Argentina | Croatia | Nigeria | Iceland

Group Odds:

Group Summary (Click for in-depth group analysis)

It's an open heat behind big favourites Argentina, who may not have it all their own way but will surely emerge as group winners. Croatia might have a thing or two to say about that with another talented squad heading to a World Cup with lofty abitions. They have a score to settle with Iceland won their qualifying group, so Euro 2016's surprise package will have no fear facing them again. Nigeria could be tricky in what is a fascinating battle.

Click on the image for all you need to know about Argentina

Fixtures:

Saturday June 16 - Argentina vs Iceland, 2pm, Otkrytie Arena, Moscow
Saturday June 16 - Croatia vs Nigeria, 8pm, Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad
Thursday June 21 - Argentina vs Croatia, 7pm, Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod
Friday June 22 - Nigeria vs Iceland, 4pm, Volgograd Arena, Volgograd
Tuesday June 26 - Iceland vs Croatia, 7pm, Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don
Tuesday June 26 - Nigeria vs Argentina, 7pm, Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg

Group E teams, fixtures, odds & prediction

Profiles Brazil | Switzerland | Serbia | Costa Rica

Group Odds:

Group Summary (Click for in-depth group analysis)

Brazil are huge favourites for a group which on paper provides no real problems for them, but behind them lies an intriguing contest between three small but talented nations who'll all fancy getting through in second. Switzerland and Serbia should be battling it out for second place in theory, but Costa Rica are a big price at 7/2 to qualify given their run to the quarter-finals four years ago. They won a group containing Uruguay, England and Italy and never lost a game in 90 minutes.

Click on the image for all you need to know about Serbia

Fixtures

Sunday June 17 - Costa Rica vs Serbia, 1pm, Samara Arena, Samara
Sunday June 17 - Brazil vs Switzerland, 7pm, Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don
Friday June 22 - Brazil vs Costa Rica, 1pm, Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg
Friday June 22 - Serbia vs Switzerland, 7pm, Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad
Wednesday June 27 - Serbia vs Brazil, 7pm, Otkrytie Arena, Moscow
Wednesday June 27 - Switzerland vs Costa Rica, 7pm, Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod

Group F teams, fixtures, odds & prediction

Profiles: Germany | Mexico | Sweden | South Korea

Group Odds:

Group Summary (Click for in-depth group analysis)

You're barking up the wrong tree looking for an upset group winner here as defending champions Germany just don't make mistakes like that. Mexico may well be favourites to go through as runners-up, but they are worth opposing as they face the Germans first up which could enable Sweden or South Korea to steal a march on them if either wins their opener.

Click on the image for all you need to know about Sweden

Fixtures

Sunday June 17 - Germany vs Mexico, 4pm, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Monday June 18 - Sweden vs South Korea, 1pm, Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod
Saturday June 23 - South Korea vs Mexico, 4pm, Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don
Saturday June 23 - Germany vs Sweden, 7pm, Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi
Wednesday June 27 - South Korea vs Germany, 3pm, Kazan Arena, Kazan
Wednesday June 27 - Mexico vs Sweden, 3pm, Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg

Group G teams, fixtures, odds & prediction

Profiles: Belgium | England | Tunisia | Panama

Group Odds:

Group Summary (Click for in-depth group analysis)

A match bet on the odds between Belgium and England and that final game between them should be the decider for who tops the group. Tunisia and Panama should be the definition of also-rans and it'd be a huge upset if they took any points off the big two.

Click on the image for all you need to know about Belgium

Fixtures

Monday June 18 - Belgium vs Panama, 4pm, Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi
Monday June 18 - Tunisia vs England, 7pm, Volgograd Arena, Volgograd
Saturday June 23 - Belgium vs Tunisia, 1pm, Otkrytie Arena, Moscow
Sunday June 24 - England vs Panama, 1pm, Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod
Thursday June 28 - England vs Belgium, 7pm, Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad
Thursday June 28 - Panama vs Tunisia, 7pm, Mordovia Arena, Saransk

Group H teams, fixtures, odds & prediction

Profiles: Colombia | Poland | Senegal | Japan

Group Odds:

Group Summary (Click for in-depth group analysis)

The most wide open group in the tournament as the only one without an odds-on favourite to win it, Colombia reached the quarter-finals in Brazil and have some big names in their ranks. Poland are actually top seeds in this group and in Robert Lewandowski have one of the world's best strikers, while Senegal caused shockwaves on their only previous appearance in 2002 and have Liverpool's Sadio Mane leading their line. It looks like being a bit of a struggle for Japan.

Click on the image for all you need to know about Colombia

Fixtures