10 Unmissable Group Stage Fixtures At World Cup 2018
9. Portugal Vs. Spain (June 15)
On only the second day of the World Cup, fans will be able to enjoy what could be one of the most thrilling group stage fixtures of them all. This game is only the second fixture of Group B but will surely go a long way towards deciding the winner of the group, with both Spain and Portgual bringing strong squads to the tournament.
Interestingly, these two sides have met up quite often in recent major competitions, and games tend to be pretty cagey between the two nations. At Euro 2004, for example, Portugal won 1-0 in the group stages. Spain reversed the scoreline in the knockout round of the 2010 World Cup. Then, at Euro 2012, the teams saw out a 0-0 draw in the semis and had to be separated on penalties, with Spain running out winners in the end.
Portugal are European Champions. Spain are former European and World Champions looking to bounce back from a disappointing World Cup in 2014. This game is a real clash of the titans. Judging by past results, we can't expect a 4-3 thriller, but there'll be a lot of talent on show, surely making for a highly entertaining match.