2018 FIFA World Cup Group B

2018 postage stamp from Russia depicting Group B of the 2018 FIFA World Cup group stage.

Group B of the 2018 FIFA World Cup took place from 15 to 25 June 2018. The group consisted of Portugal, Spain, Morocco, and Iran. The top two teams, Spain and Portugal, advanced to the round of 16.

Teams

Draw position Team Pot Confederation Method of
qualification
Date of
qualification
Finals
appearance
Last
appearance
Previous best
performance
FIFA Rankings
October 2017 June 2018
B1  Portugal 1 UEFA UEFA Group B winners 10 October 2017 7th 2014 Third place (1966) 3 4
B2  Spain 2 UEFA UEFA Group G winners 6 October 2017 15th 2014 Winners (2010) 8 10
B3  Morocco 4 CAF CAF Third Round Group C winners 11 November 2017 5th 1998 Round of 16 (1986) 48 41
B4  Iran 3 AFC AFC Third Round Group A winners 12 June 2017 5th 2014 Group stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014) 34 37
Notes
  1. ^ The rankings of October 2017 were used for seeding for the final draw.

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Spain 3 1 2 0 6 5 +1 5 Advance to knockout stage
2  Portugal 3 1 2 0 5 4 +1 5
3  Iran 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
4  Morocco 3 0 1 2 2 4 −2 1
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

In the round of 16:

Matches

All times listed are local time.

Morocco vs Iran

The two teams had never met before.

Amine Harit fired wide with a volley from the edge of the penalty area after two minutes. Younès Belhanda and Medhi Benatia squandered close-range chances in a penalty box before Iran finally countered after 20 minutes, only for Karim Ansarifard to scuff his shot when clean through on goal. Sardar Azmoun then latched onto Omid Ebrahimi's through ball, but his shot was too low and Munir Mohamedi saved low with his feet. In the final 10 minutes Hakim Ziyech lashed the ball towards the bottom-left corner of the net from 20 yards but Alireza Beiranvand stopped the ball. In the last minutes, Ehsan Hajsafi's delivery from the left was met by a header from Aziz Bouhaddouz that flew into the left corner of his own net.

Iran won just their second match at the World Cup (D3 L8), with this is their first victory since beating the United States 2–1 in June 1998. Iran did not attempt a single shot in the second half and were the first team since 1966 to score a goal in a half of World Cup football without attempting a shot. Iran also maintained their unbeaten streak against CAF teams in the World Cup, having drawn Angola 1–1 in 2006 and Nigeria 0–0 in 2014; while this was also Iran's first ever victory against any Arab team in the World Cup.

Morocco 0–1 Iran
Report
  • Bouhaddouz 90+5' (o.g.)
Morocco
Iran
GK 12 Munir Mohamedi
CB 2 Achraf Hakimi
CB 5 Medhi Benatia (c)
CB 6 Romain Saïss
RM 14 Mbark Boussoufa
CM 7 Hakim Ziyech
CM 8 Karim El Ahmadi Yellow card 34'
LM 18 Amine Harit downward-facing red arrow 82'
RF 16 Nordin Amrabat downward-facing red arrow 76'
CF 9 Ayoub El Kaabi downward-facing red arrow 77'
LF 10 Younès Belhanda
Substitutions:
MF 21 Sofyan Amrabat upward-facing green arrow 76'
FW 20 Aziz Bouhaddouz upward-facing green arrow 77'
DF 4 Manuel da Costa upward-facing green arrow 82'
Manager:
France Hervé Renard
MAR-IRN 2018-06-15.svg
GK 1 Alireza Beiranvand
CB 23 Ramin Rezaeian
CB 4 Rouzbeh Cheshmi
CB 8 Morteza Pouraliganji
RM 10 Karim Ansarifard Yellow card 90+2'
CM 9 Omid Ebrahimi downward-facing red arrow 81'
CM 3 Ehsan Hajsafi
LM 7 Masoud Shojaei (c) Yellow card 10' downward-facing red arrow 68'
RF 18 Alireza Jahanbakhsh Yellow card 47' downward-facing red arrow 85'
CF 20 Sardar Azmoun
LF 11 Vahid Amiri
Substitutions:
FW 17 Mehdi Taremi upward-facing green arrow 68'
DF 19 Majid Hosseini upward-facing green arrow 81'
FW 14 Saman Ghoddos upward-facing green arrow 85'
Manager:
Portugal Carlos Queiroz

Man of the Match:
Amine Harit (Morocco)

Assistant referees:
Bahattin Duran (Turkey)
Tarık Ongun (Turkey)
Fourth official:
Sergei Karasev (Russia)
Reserve assistant referee:
Anton Averianov (Russia)
Video assistant referee:
Felix Zwayer (Germany)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Bastian Dankert (Germany)
Mark Borsch (Germany)
Jair Marrufo (United States)

Portugal vs Spain

Portugal vs Spain

The two teams had met in 35 previous matches, including in the round of 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, won by Spain 1–0. Their most recent meeting was in the UEFA Euro 2012 semi-finals, when Spain won 4–2 on penalties after a goalless draw in normal time.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored with an early penalty, winning it after he was fouled by Nacho inside the box. Diego Costa then twisted and turned away from two Portugal defenders to score with a low shot to the left corner which brought the two sides level. But just before the break, David de Gea fumbled a Ronaldo shot from outside the penalty box through his gloves and over the line. Costa scored his second equaliser of the night just after the restart from close range before Nacho scored with a right foot half-volley in off the post from the edge of the penalty box, his first goal for Spain. As the clock ticked down, however, Gerard Piqué brought down Ronaldo just outside the box, with the Portugal star completing the scoring and his hat-trick with a free-kick into the top right corner of the net.

Ronaldo became the fourth player to score in four different World Cup tournaments (2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018) after Pelé, Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose, and also the first to score in eight consecutive World Cups and European Championships. At age 33, Ronaldo also became the oldest hat-trick scorer in the World Cup, surpassing Rob Rensenbrink of the Netherlands, who scored three times against Iran in 1978, aged 30. With this result, Spain has not won any opening matches since 2006, having lost to Switzerland 0–1 in 2010 and the Netherlands 1–5 in 2014.

Portugal 3–3 Spain
Report
Attendance: 43,866
Portugal
Spain
GK 1 Rui Patrício
RB 21 Cédric
CB 3 Pepe
CB 6 José Fonte
LB 5 Raphaël Guerreiro
CM 14 William Carvalho
CM 8 João Moutinho
RW 11 Bernardo Silva downward-facing red arrow 69'
AM 17 Gonçalo Guedes downward-facing red arrow 80'
LW 16 Bruno Fernandes Yellow card 28' downward-facing red arrow 68'
CF 7 Cristiano Ronaldo (c)
Substitutions:
MF 10 João Mário upward-facing green arrow 68'
FW 20 Ricardo Quaresma upward-facing green arrow 69'
FW 9 André Silva upward-facing green arrow 80'
Manager:
Fernando Santos
POR-ESP 2018-06-15.svg
GK 1 David de Gea
RB 4 Nacho
CB 3 Gerard Piqué
CB 15 Sergio Ramos (c)
LB 18 Jordi Alba
CM 5 Sergio Busquets Yellow card 17'
CM 8 Koke
RW 21 David Silva downward-facing red arrow 86'
AM 22 Isco
LW 6 Andrés Iniesta downward-facing red arrow 70'
CF 19 Diego Costa downward-facing red arrow 77'
Substitutions:
MF 10 Thiago upward-facing green arrow 70'
FW 17 Iago Aspas upward-facing green arrow 77'
FW 11 Lucas Vázquez upward-facing green arrow 86'
Manager:
Fernando Hierro

Man of the Match:
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Assistant referees:
Elenito Di Liberatore (Italy)
Mauro Tonolini (Italy)
Fourth official:
Ryuji Sato (Japan)
Reserve assistant referee:
Toru Sagara (Japan)
Video assistant referee:
Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Paolo Valeri (Italy)
Carlos Astroza (Chile)
Daniele Orsato (Italy)

Portugal vs Morocco

The two teams had met previously only once, a group stage game in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, won by Morocco 3–1.

João Moutinho swung in a cross from the right after a short corner and Cristiano Ronaldo headed the ball powerfully past goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi from six yards out and into the middle of the goal to open the scoring in the 4th minute. Ronaldo played Gonçalo Guedes into the box but Munir made a one-handed save. Ronaldo shot over the crossbar when Bernardo Silva's mishit presented him with a shooting chance on the edge of the box early in the second half. Rui Patrício then made a save to preserve Portugal's lead when Hakim Ziyech's free-kick was headed towards goal by Younès Belhanda, the goalkeeper diving to palm the ball away from danger. Ziyech shot another set-piece just over the crossbar from 25 yards. Nordin Amrabat and Medhi Benatia fired over with better chances. With their second loss in a row, Morocco became the third team to be eliminated from the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

85 international goals for Ronaldo is a new record for a European player, with Ronaldo passing Ferenc Puskás to hold the record outright. Ronaldo has become the first Portuguese player since José Torres in 1966 to score a goal with his right foot, left foot and head in a single World Cup tournament. Ronaldo is the first player to score five consecutive World Cup goals for his team since Oleg Salenko for Russia in 1994.

Portugal 1–0 Morocco
Report
Attendance: 78,011
Portugal
Morocco
GK 1 Rui Patrício
RB 21 Cédric
CB 3 Pepe
CB 6 José Fonte
LB 5 Raphaël Guerreiro
RM 11 Bernardo Silva downward-facing red arrow 59'
CM 14 William Carvalho
CM 8 João Moutinho downward-facing red arrow 89'
LM 10 João Mário downward-facing red arrow 70'
CF 17 Gonçalo Guedes
CF 7 Cristiano Ronaldo (c)
Substitutions:
FW 18 Gelson Martins upward-facing green arrow 59'
MF 16 Bruno Fernandes upward-facing green arrow 70'
MF 23 Adrien Silva Yellow card 90+2' upward-facing green arrow 89'
Manager:
Fernando Santos
POR-MAR 2018-06-20.svg
GK 12 Munir Mohamedi
RB 17 Nabil Dirar
CB 5 Medhi Benatia (c) Yellow card 40'
CB 4 Manuel da Costa
LB 2 Achraf Hakimi
CM 8 Karim El Ahmadi downward-facing red arrow 86'
CM 14 Mbark Boussoufa
RW 16 Nordin Amrabat
AM 10 Younès Belhanda downward-facing red arrow 75'
LW 7 Hakim Ziyech
CF 13 Khalid Boutaïb downward-facing red arrow 70'
Substitutions:
FW 9 Ayoub El Kaabi upward-facing green arrow 70'
MF 23 Mehdi Carcela upward-facing green arrow 75'
MF 11 Fayçal Fajr upward-facing green arrow 86'
Manager:
France Hervé Renard

Man of the Match:
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Assistant referees:
Joe Fletcher (Canada)
Frank Anderson (United States)
Fourth official:
Sergei Karasev (Russia)
Reserve assistant referee:
Anton Averianov (Russia)
Video assistant referee:
Felix Zwayer (Germany)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Jair Marrufo (United States)
Simon Lount (New Zealand)
Bastian Dankert (Germany)

Iran vs Spain

The two teams had never met before.

Spain had their first attempt on goal in the 25th minute when David Silva's long-range free-kick was held by Alireza Beiranvand. Five minutes later, Silva's volley sailed narrowly over the crossbar from six yards out. At the start of the 2nd half, Gerard Piqué's close-range effort was blocked and then Beiranvand palmed away Sergio Busquets' curled effort from the edge of the penalty area. Karim Ansarifard's effort from a corner flashed into David de Gea's side netting. In the 54th minute, Diego Costa picked up Andrés Iniesta's pass inside the area and saw Ramin Rezaeian's attempted clearance ricochet off his leg and past Beiranvand low into the left corner of the net. Saeid Ezatolahi pulled Iran level shortly after the hour but his close-range finish after a scramble was ruled out courtesy of VAR after Rezaeian was found in an offside position. Mehdi Taremi's back-post header fizzed over De Gea's crossbar seven minutes from time as Iran pushed for an equaliser, but Spain held on for a 1–0 win.

Iran did not manage a shot on target for the first time in 14 World Cup games.

Iran 0–1 Spain
Report
Attendance: 42,718
Iran
Spain
GK 1 Alireza Beiranvand
RB 23 Ramin Rezaeian
CB 19 Majid Hosseini
CB 8 Morteza Pouraliganji
LB 3 Ehsan Hajsafi (c) downward-facing red arrow 69'
CM 9 Omid Ebrahimi Yellow card 90+2'
CM 6 Saeid Ezatolahi
RW 10 Karim Ansarifard downward-facing red arrow 74'
AM 17 Mehdi Taremi
LW 11 Vahid Amiri Yellow card 79' downward-facing red arrow 86'
CF 20 Sardar Azmoun
Substitutions:
DF 5 Milad Mohammadi upward-facing green arrow 69'
FW 18 Alireza Jahanbakhsh upward-facing green arrow 74'
FW 14 Saman Ghoddos upward-facing green arrow 86'
Manager:
Portugal Carlos Queiroz
IRN-ESP 2018-06-20.svg
GK 1 David de Gea
RB 2 Dani Carvajal
CB 3 Gerard Piqué
CB 15 Sergio Ramos (c)
LB 18 Jordi Alba
CM 5 Sergio Busquets
CM 6 Andrés Iniesta downward-facing red arrow 71'
RW 21 David Silva
AM 22 Isco
LW 11 Lucas Vázquez downward-facing red arrow 79'
CF 19 Diego Costa downward-facing red arrow 89'
Substitutions:
MF 8 Koke upward-facing green arrow 71'
MF 20 Marco Asensio upward-facing green arrow 79'
FW 9 Rodrigo upward-facing green arrow 89'
Manager:
Fernando Hierro

Man of the Match:
Diego Costa (Spain)

Assistant referees:
Nicolás Taran (Uruguay)
Mauricio Espinosa (Uruguay)
Fourth official:
Julio Bascuñán (Chile)
Reserve assistant referee:
Christian Schiemann (Chile)
Video assistant referee:
Mauro Vigliano (Argentina)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Wilton Sampaio (Brazil)
Alexander Guzmán (Colombia)
Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)

Iran vs Portugal

The two teams had met twice, most recently in a group stage game in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, won by Portugal 2–0.

In the 45 minute, Ricardo Quaresma cut in from the right before scoring with a curling shot off the outside of his right foot that looped over Alireza Beiranvand into the top-left corner. Saeid Ezatolahi's foul on Cristiano Ronaldo won Portugal a penalty, which Ronaldo shot low into the right, enabling Beiranvand to get down and make a stop. Iran then managed to get a penalty in stoppage time after referee used VAR to determine that Cédric's handball from Sardar Azmoun's header had been intentional, which Karim Ansarifard converted high to his right. The game ended in a 1−1 draw, with Portugal advancing and Iran eliminated.

Quaresma (34 years, 272 days old) is the oldest player to score on his first World Cup start since Yahya Golmohammadi (35 years, 84 days old), who did so for Iran in 2006 against Mexico. Iran's goal - scored after 92 minutes and 48 seconds - was the latest goal Portugal have ever conceded at the World Cup. This was Iran's best performance ever in the FIFA World Cup, winning four points and having earned their first ever draw against any European opponents since 1978, when Iran drew 1–1 to Scotland.

Iran 1–1 Portugal
Report
Attendance: 41,685
Iran
Portugal
GK 1 Alireza Beiranvand
RB 23 Ramin Rezaeian
CB 19 Majid Hosseini
CB 8 Morteza Pouraliganji
LB 3 Ehsan Hajsafi (c) Yellow card 52' downward-facing red arrow 56'
DM 6 Saeid Ezatolahi downward-facing red arrow 76'
CM 18 Alireza Jahanbakhsh downward-facing red arrow 70'
CM 9 Omid Ebrahimi
RW 17 Mehdi Taremi
LW 11 Vahid Amiri
CF 20 Sardar Azmoun Yellow card 54'
Substitutions:
DF 5 Milad Mohammadi upward-facing green arrow 56'
FW 14 Saman Ghoddos upward-facing green arrow 70'
FW 10 Karim Ansarifard upward-facing green arrow 76'
Manager:
Portugal Carlos Queiroz
IRN-POR 2018-06-25.svg
GK 1 Rui Patrício
RB 21 Cédric Yellow card 90+8'
CB 3 Pepe
CB 6 José Fonte
LB 5 Raphaël Guerreiro Yellow card 33'
RM 20 Ricardo Quaresma Yellow card 64' downward-facing red arrow 70'
CM 14 William Carvalho
CM 23 Adrien Silva
LM 10 João Mário downward-facing red arrow 84'
CF 9 André Silva downward-facing red arrow 90+6'
CF 7 Cristiano Ronaldo (c) Yellow card 83'
Substitutions:
MF 11 Bernardo Silva upward-facing green arrow 70'
MF 8 João Moutinho upward-facing green arrow 84'
FW 17 Gonçalo Guedes upward-facing green arrow 90+6'
Manager:
Fernando Santos

Man of the Match:
Ricardo Quaresma (Portugal)

Assistant referees:
Eduardo Cardozo (Paraguay)
Juan Zorrilla (Paraguay)
Fourth official:
Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria)
Reserve assistant referee:
Anouar Hmila (Tunisia)
Video assistant referee:
Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Gery Vargas (Bolivia)
Hernán Maidana (Argentina)
Paolo Valeri (Italy)

Spain vs Morocco

Despite their geographical proximity, the two teams had faced each other only in two opportunities, both were in the 1962 FIFA World Cup qualification phase and won by Spain.

In the 14th minute, a mix-up between Sergio Ramos and Andrés Iniesta allowed Khalid Boutaïb to steal possession on the halfway line, burst through on goal and finish through the legs of David de Gea. Iniesta and Diego Costa combined to set up Isco for a close-range finish that tied the scores five minutes later. Boutaïb was clear again in the 25th minute when Morocco took a quick throw-in, but De Gea stopped the ball. Nordin Amrabat, Manuel da Costa and Mbark Boussoufa were all booked in three-minute period before Sergio Busquets headed over the crossbar from Isco's corner. Amrabat's strike from at least 25 yards out bounced off the woodwork in the 55th minute. Isco's looping header dipped under the crossbar, but Romain Saïss made a clearance, Gerard Piqué heading wide from the resulting Isco corner. Youssef En-Nesyri scored home a header to give Morocco the lead. And when Iago Aspas turned home Dani Carvajal's cross from the right after a short corner – the goal given by VAR after a long delay – Spain was tied in the first minute of added time.

Boutaïb's goal for Morocco was their first goal at the finals since 1998, when Salaheddine Bassir scored in a 3–0 win over Scotland. Ramos made his 16th appearance for Spain at the World Cup, overtaking Xavi as their most capped outfield player in the competition. Spain have failed to win their final group game at a World Cup for the first time since 1982, having won the previous eight such games.

Spain 2–2 Morocco
Report
Spain
Morocco
GK 1 David de Gea
RB 2 Dani Carvajal
CB 3 Gerard Piqué
CB 15 Sergio Ramos (c)
LB 18 Jordi Alba
CM 5 Sergio Busquets
CM 10 Thiago downward-facing red arrow 74'
RW 21 David Silva downward-facing red arrow 84'
AM 22 Isco
LW 6 Andrés Iniesta
CF 19 Diego Costa downward-facing red arrow 74'
Substitutions:
FW 17 Iago Aspas upward-facing green arrow 74'
MF 20 Marco Asensio upward-facing green arrow 74'
FW 9 Rodrigo upward-facing green arrow 84'
Manager:
Fernando Hierro
ESP-MAR 2018-06-25.svg
GK 12 Munir Mohamedi Yellow card 88'
RB 17 Nabil Dirar
CB 4 Manuel da Costa Yellow card 31'
CB 6 Romain Saïss
LB 2 Achraf Hakimi Yellow card 90+3'
CM 8 Karim El Ahmadi Yellow card 21'
CM 14 Mbark Boussoufa (c) Yellow card 31'
RW 16 Nordin Amrabat Yellow card 29'
AM 10 Younès Belhanda downward-facing red arrow 63'
LW 7 Hakim Ziyech downward-facing red arrow 85'
CF 13 Khalid Boutaïb downward-facing red arrow 72'
Substitutions:
MF 11 Fayçal Fajr upward-facing green arrow 63'
FW 19 Youssef En-Nesyri upward-facing green arrow 72'
FW 20 Aziz Bouhaddouz upward-facing green arrow 85'
Manager:
France Hervé Renard

Man of the Match:
Isco (Spain)

Assistant referees:
Abdukhamidullo Rasulov (Uzbekistan)
Jakhongir Saidov (Uzbekistan)
Fourth official:
Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)
Reserve assistant referee:
Mohamed Al Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)
Video assistant referee:
Felix Zwayer (Germany)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Bastian Dankert (Germany)
Mark Borsch (Germany)
Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)

Discipline

Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:

  • first yellow card: minus 1 point;
  • indirect red card (second yellow card): minus 3 points;
  • direct red card: minus 4 points;
  • yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points;

Only one of the above deductions were applied to a player in a single match.

Team Match 1 Match 2 Match 3 Points
Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Red card
 Spain 1 −1
 Portugal 1 1 4 −6
 Iran 3 2 2 −7
 Morocco 1 1 6 −8

This page was last updated at 2022-11-24 06:58 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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