Read our comprehensive guides with predictions, previews and best bets for every World Cup group in Russia.
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World Cup Group A
Profiles: Russia | Uruguay | Egypt | Saudi Arabia
Odds
- Uruguay - 4/5 to win | 1/7 to qualify
- Russia - 13/8 to win | 1/3 to qualify
- Egypt - 13/2 to win | 7/4 to qualify
- Saudi Arabia - 25/1 to win | 8/1 to qualify
Verdict
A dream draw on paper for Uruguay, who are a cut above the rest of these on paper. Behind them is a a bit of a puzzle, especially given Mohamed Salah's injury worry for Egypt, but preference is given for Russia to get through as the hosts have only once previously failed to navigate the group stages.
Group A Prediction: (3/1 with Sky Bet)
- Uruguay
- Russia
- Egypt
- Saudi Arabia
Best bets
Uruguay to win the group & Saudi Arabia to finish in last place at 13/8
Uruguay to score over 4.5 goals in the group stages at 4/6
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
Odds
- Iran - 28/1 to win | 6/1 to qualify
- Morocco - 14/1 to win | 10/3 to qualify
- Portugal - 2/1 to win | 2/7 to qualify
- Spain - 1/2 to win | 1/12 to qualify
Verdict
It'll be a fascinating battle between Iberian rivals Portugal and Spain, who meet in their opening game of the group. Not that you should count out Iran or Morocco, though, who both powered through their respective qualifying campaign without conceding a goal, so will provide stubborn opposition for the big guns.
Group B prediction (11/4 with Sky Bet)
- Spain
- Portugal
- Morocco
- Iran
Best bets
Straight forecast - Spain winner, Portugal runner-up at 6/5
Spain winner, Iran bottom at 13/8
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
Odds
- Australia - 14/1 to win | 7/2 to qualify
- Denmark - 4/1 to win | 8/11 to qualify
- France - 1/3 to win | 1/16 to qualify
- Peru - 9/1 to win | 15/8 to qualify
Verdict
France will be delighted to have been placed in this group, and should have little issue securing top spot and a better tie in the Round of 16. Denmark are fancied to wrap up second, but there is a genuine possibility of any of the others proving good enough to progress to the knockout stages.
Group C prediction: (9/1 with Sky Bet)
- France
- Australia
- Denmark
- Peru
Best bets
Antoine Griezmann to score anytime in France v Australia at evens
France to have exactly nine group points - 7/4
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
Odds
- Argentina - 4/7 to win | 1/7 to qualify
- Croatia - 9/4 to win | 1/2 to qualify
- Iceland - 10/1 to win | 3/1 to qualify
- Nigeria - 9/1 to win | 5/2 to qualify
Verdict
Group D is one of many groups at the World Cup that looks intriguing and basically open for any side to wrap up a spot in the knockout stages, but it's difficult to see Argentina as anything other than winners. Picking the bones out of the rest is tough, Croatia are regular dark horses but they actually finished behind Iceland, who are given the nod, in qualifying.
Group D Prediction: (10/1 with Sky Bet)
- Argentina
- Iceland
- Croatia
- Nigeria
Best bets
Iceland to qualify from the group at 3/1
Argentina winner, Nigeria last place at 11/4
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
World Cup Group E
Profiles Brazil | Switzerland | Serbia | Costa Rica
Odds
- Brazil - 1/4 to win | 1/16 to qualify
- Switzerland - 13/2 to win | 11/10 to qualify
- Serbia - 7/1 to win | 13/10 to qualify
- Costa Rica - 16/1 to win | 7/2 to qualify
Verdict
A real chance for Brazil to storm this group, show some real samba style and gather momentum going into the knockout stages. Serbia could surprise a few but Switzerland v Costa Rica in the final game could be the all-important match to decide who joins Brazil in advancing.
Group E Prediction: (6/1 with Sky Bet)
- Brazil
- Switzerland
- Costa Rica
- Serbia
Best bets
Serbia to finish bottom at 5/2
Brazil to win all group games at 6/4
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
World Cup Group F
Profiles: Germany | Mexico | Sweden | South Korea
Odds
- Germany - 2/5 to win | 1/10 to qualify
- Mexico - 5/1 to win | evens to qualify
- Sweden - 6/1 to win | 11/8 to qualify
- South Korea - 12/1 to win | 3/1 to qualify
Verdict
Another case of a standout winner, it has to be a question of who will join Germany in moving into the knockout stages. Mexico and Sweden look to be the ones battling it out for second, but South Korea will make a case after losing just three of their last 12 games.
Group F Prediction: (9/2 with Sky Bet)
- Germany
- Mexico
- South Korea
- Sweden
Best bets
Mexico to finish as runner up at 15/8
Brazil, France and Germany each to win all their group games at 20/1
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
Odds
- Belgium – 8/11 to win | 1/12 to qualify
- England – 5/4 to win | 1/8 to qualify
- Tunisia – 20/1 to win | 5/1 to qualify
- Panama – 33/1 to win | 12/1 to qualify
Verdict
Gareth Southgate would have been relatively pleased with the draw considering his team managed to avoid the likes of Germany, Brazil, Argentina and France. Instead Group G’s top seeded team is a highly-talented but beatable Belgium. Tunisia will provide the only stumbling block for the big two.
Group G Prediction: (3/1 with Sky Bet)
- England
- Belgium
- Tunisia
- Panama
Best bets
England winner, Panama last place at 5/2
Panama to lose all group games at 15/8
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
Odds
- Colombia – 11/8 to win | 2/5 to qualify
- Poland – 15/8 to win | 4/7 to qualify
- Senegal – 4/1 to win | 5/4 to qualify
- Japan – 13/2 to win | 9/4 to qualify
Verdict
Arguably the most wide-open group in the tournament - favourites Colombia are as big as 11/8 to win the section and rank outsiders Japan just 9/4 to qualify. If a James Rodriguez-powered Colombia are near their form of four years ago they'll readily come out on top, but in Poland and Senegal they face a tough enough test. Robert Lewandowski scored 16 goals in qualifying and is in the shop window, while Sadio Mane is a danger for Senegal - if this comes to a shootout then Japan will surely find themselves outgunned.
Group H prediction: (15/2 with Sky Bet)
- Colombia
- Poland
- Senegal
- Japan
Best bets
Colombia winner, Japan bottom at 4/1
Keita Balde top Senegal scorer at 6/1
Fixtures
- Tuesday June 19 - Colombia vs Japan, 1pm, Mordovia Arena, Saransk
- Tuesday June 19 - Poland vs Senegal, 4pm, Otkrytie Arena, Moscow
- Sunday June 24 - Japan vs Senegal, 4pm, Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg
- Sunday June 24 - Poland vs Colombia, 7pm, Kazan Arena, Kazan
- Thursday June 28 - Japan vs Poland, 3pm, Volgograd Arena, Volgograd
- Thursday June 28 - Senegal v Colombia, 3pm, Samara Arena, Samara
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Odds correct as of 1230 BST 11/06/18
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