Group favourites
Portugal
Manager: Roberto Martínez · FIFA rank: 5 · Route: UEFA Group F winners · Last World Cup: 2022 · Best result: Third place (1966)
Portugal arrive with one of the most-talented squads at the tournament. Ronaldo plays his sixth World Cup — equalling Messi’s record — with Goncalo Ramos and Joao Felix providing the central support; Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha control midfield; Rafael Leao, Pedro Neto and Francisco Conceicao stretch the wings; Ruben Dias and Goncalo Inacio anchor the defence. Martínez’s job is balance.
Key man: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) — the most consistent creator in the squad.
Betting angle: Portugal around 14/1 outright. Group winner is short. Ronaldo anytime goalscorer in every match is among the most-bet sentimental picks.
Portugal full squad
GK: Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Rui Silva, Ricardo Velho.
DF: Diogo Dalot, Matheus Nunes, Nélson Semedo, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Goncalo Inacio, Renato Veiga, Ruben Dias, Tomas Araujo.
MF: Ruben Neves, Samuel Costa, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva.
FW: Joao Felix, Francisco Trincao, Francisco Conceicao, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leao, Goncalo Guedes, Goncalo Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo.
South American qualifier
Colombia
Manager: Nestor Lorenzo · FIFA rank: 13 · Route: CONMEBOL third place · Last World Cup: 2018 · Best result: Quarter-finals (2014)
Colombia’s first World Cup since 2018, and the strongest second seed in the group. Luis Diaz is now at Bayern Munich; James Rodriguez still creates from deep, even at Minnesota; Daniel Munoz at Crystal Palace is the engine; Yerry Mina and Davinson Sanchez bring the defensive experience. Nestor Lorenzo’s side built a long unbeaten run in qualifying.
Key man: Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich) — pace, finishing, the difference-maker.
Betting angle: Colombia to qualify is short. Group winner price is the value if you fancy them over Portugal — the head-to-head fixture is the swing match.
Colombia full squad
GK: Camilo Vargas, Alvaro Montero, David Ospina.
DF: Davinson Sanchez, Jhon Lucumi, Yerry Mina, Willer Ditta, Daniel Munoz, Santiago Arias, Johan Mojica, Deiver Machado.
MF: Richard Rios, Jefferson Lerma, Kevin Castano, Juan Camilo Portilla, Gustavo Puerta, Jhon Arias, Jorge Carrascal, Juan Fernando Quintero, James Rodriguez, Jaminton Campaz.
FW: Juan Camilo Hernandez, Luis Diaz, Luis Suarez, Carlos Andres Gomez, Jhon Cordoba.
African qualifier
DR Congo
Manager: Sebastien Desabre · FIFA rank: 46 · Route: Inter-confederation play-off winners · Last World Cup: 1974 · Best result: Group stage (1974)
DR Congo’s first World Cup in 52 years. French manager Sebastien Desabre built the squad around Premier League and European-based talent — Yoane Wissa at Newcastle, Aaron Wan-Bissaka at West Ham, Edo Kayembe at Watford, Noah Sadiki at Sunderland, Mbemba at Lille. Chancel Mbemba is the captain; Cedric Bakambu leads the line. The depth of European exposure makes them a tougher proposition than the FIFA ranking suggests.
Key man: Yoane Wissa (Newcastle) — the most in-form attacker.
Betting angle: DR Congo to qualify (third-place route) is the angle for outsider backers. Wissa anytime goalscorer is the popular player special.
DR Congo full squad
GK: Matthieu Epolo, Timothy Fayulu, Lionel Mpasi.
DF: Dylan Batubinsika, Rocky Bushiri, Gedeon Kalulu, Steve Kapuadi, Joris Kayembe, Arthur Masuaku, Chancel Mbemba, Axel Tuanzebe, Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
MF: Theo Bongonda, Brian Cipenga, Meshack Elia, Gael Kakuta, Edo Kayembe, Nathanael Mbuku, Samuel Moutoussamy, Ngal’ayel Mukau, Charles Pickel, Noah Sadiki.
FW: Cedric Bakambu, Simon Banza, Fiston Mayele, Yoane Wissa.
World Cup debutants
Uzbekistan
Manager: Fabio Cannavaro · FIFA rank: 50 · Route: AFC Group A runners-up · Last World Cup: Debut · Best result: n/a
Uzbekistan’s first ever World Cup, and Fabio Cannavaro — the 2006 World Cup winner with Italy — is the most-notable manager of any debutant nation. The squad has one genuinely top-level name in Abdukodir Khusanov at Manchester City; Eldor Shomurodov leads the attack; Jaloliddin Masharipov provides the creativity. Cannavaro’s defensive structure makes them harder to break down than the Asian-pot ranking suggests.
Key man: Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City) — the only top-five-league regular.
Betting angle: Under 2.5 goals in every Uzbekistan match is the sensible angle. The DR Congo fixture is the realistic three-points game.
Uzbekistan full squad
GK: Utkir Yusupov, Abduvohid Nematov, Botirali Ergashev.
DF: Rustam Ashurmatov, Farrukh Sayfiev, Khojiakbar Alijonov, Sherzod Nasrullaev, Umar Eshmurodov, Abdukodir Khusanov, Abdulla Abdullaev, Bekhruz Karimov, Jakhongir Urozov, Avazbek Ulmasaliev.
MF: Otabek Shukurov, Jaloliddin Masharipov, Odiljon Hamrobekov, Oston Urunov, Jamshid Iskanderov, Dostonbek Khamdamov, Abbosbek Fayzullaev, Akmal Mozgovoy, Azizjon Ganiev, Sherzod Esanov.
FW: Eldor Shomurodov, Igor Sergeev, Azizbek Amonov.
