World Cup 2014: Lawro's predictions - second group games

BBC Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson is predicting the outcome of every game at the 2014 Fifa World Cup.

The second round of group games include must-win matches for England, against Uruguay, and Spain, who face Chile, after both teams suffered defeats in their opening fixtures.

Brazil and Mexico are the first teams to play their second game, on the same day as the opening fixtures in Group H. Those results are also included in Lawro's predictions.

Before the tournament, Lawro picked his two teams to go through from each group and reach the knockout stage.

He is backing Argentina to win the World Cup and lift the trophy at the Maracana on 13 July, and believes England will reach the quarter-finals.

Lawro was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

Group A

Games	Score	Lawro's prediction
Tuesday 17 June
Brazil v Mexico	0-0	2-0
Wednesday 18 June
Cameroon v Croatia	x-x	1-2

Brazil 0-0 Mexico

Read the match report.

Cameroon v Croatia (18 June, 23:00 BST)

Croatia need to pick themselves up because they spent two days moaning about the decisions that went against them against Brazil, and that is probably long enough.

They need to concentrate on the positives because they played well and caused Brazil some problems, especially Ivica Olic down the left. Cameroon, in contrast, were very poor against Mexico.

Arrows denote difference to real table
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS	Diff	+/-
1.	Brazil	2	2	0	0	4	0	+4	6		0
2.	Croatia	2	1	0	1	2	3	-1	3		+2
3.	Mexico	2	1	0	1	1	2	-1	3		-1
4.	Cameroon	2	0	0	2	1	3	-2	0		-1

Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Brazil and Mexico

Group B

Games	Score	Lawro's prediction
Wednesday 18 June
Australia v Netherlands	x-x	0-2
Wednesday 18 June
Spain v Chile	x-x	2-0

Australia v Netherlands (18 June, 17:00 BST)

Australia will give everything, again, but they just do not have the quality to test the Dutch.

The only thing for Netherlands to watch out for is complacency. Yes, they had an outstanding win over Spain but they cannot just turn up and think they will win comfortably - they have to apply themselves as well.

Spain v Chile (18 June, 20:00 BST)

The defending champions suffered a complete collapse in the second half against Netherlands but if David Silva had scored from a great chance when they were 1-0 up before half-time, I am sure they would have gone on to win from there.

Yes, I expect Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque to make some changes, including replacing Iker Casillas in goal, and possibly in the way that they play.

But I also expect Spain to win. Chile beat Australia but that is the game in this group that the other three teams will be expecting to win.

Arrows denote difference to real table
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS	Diff	+/-
1.	Spain	2	1	1	0	3	1	+2	4		+3
2.	Netherlands	2	1	1	0	3	1	+2	4		-1
3.	Chile	2	1	0	1	1	2	-1	3		-1
4.	Australia	2	0	0	2	0	3	-3	0		-1

Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Spain and the Netherlands

Group C

Games	Score	Lawro's prediction
Thursday 19 June
Colombia v Ivory Coast	x-x	1-1
Thursday 19 June
Japan v Greece	x-x	1-0

Colombia v Ivory Coast (19 June, 17:00 BST)

Colombia were very impressive in their opening win over Greece, and they set a great tempo against potentially awkward opposition. Their preparation for this tournament must have been spot on.

These are the best two teams in the group and this has the feel of a game they might both be thinking it is important not to lose.

Japan v Greece (19 June, 23:00 BST)

Greece did not look up to the task against Colombia and I have a feeling Japan will have too much energy for them as well. If Japan can cope with the physicality of the Greeks, then I think they will win.

Arrows denote difference to real table
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS	Diff	+/-
1.	Colombia	2	1	1	0	3	1	+2	4		0
2.	Ivory Coast	2	1	1	0	2	1	+1	4		0
3.	Japan	2	1	0	0	1	1	0	3		0
4.	Greece	2	0	0	2	0	3	-3	0		0

Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Colombia and Ivory Coast

Group D

Games	Score	Lawro's prediction
Thursday 19 June
Uruguay v England	x-x	1-2
Friday 20 June
Italy v Costa Rica	x-x	1-0

Uruguay v England (19 June, 20:00 BST)

Much has been made of the damage that Luis Suarez can do to England, but he has not played since 11 May and, although he might now be injury free, he can be nowhere near match fit.

I am backing England to win, and I don't think they have got to change too much from their defeat by Italy, although I would play Wayne Rooney in the number 10 position because you want his quality involved in crucial areas.

England need to switch on more when they don't have the ball but, against Italy, they played the ball around nicely, did not lump it and carried a real attacking threat. I still think they will get out of the group.

Italy v Costa Rica (20 June, 17:00 BST)

United States boss Jurgen Klinsmann told me a while ago that Costa Rica are a good side, and they showed it with their win over Uruguay.

There were moments in their game against England where Italy looked uncomfortable, but they got the job done, and they will do that again here.

Arrows denote difference to real table
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS	Diff	+/-
1.	England	2	2	0	0	3	1	+2	6		+2
2.	Italy	2	1	0	1	1	1	0	3		0
3.	Uruguay	2	0	1	1	1	1	0	1		+1
4.	Costa Rica	2	0	1	1	1	1	0	1		-3

Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: England and Italy

Group E

Games	Score	Lawro's prediction
Friday 20 June
Switzerland v France	x-x	0-1
Friday 20 June
Honduras v Ecuador	x-x	1-2

Switzerland v France (20 June, 20:00 BST)

Honduras tried to kick France out of the game in their opening match but, thankfully, it didn't work. Didier Deschamps's side won quite comfortably in the end but we did not learn much about them because of their opponents' lack of quality.

Switzerland will offer more of a test of how good France actually are but, by the looks of things, Les Bleus are very strong in midfield.

Honduras v Ecuador (20 June, 23:00 BST)

Honduras were poor against France and their tactics will probably be to just try to stop an energetic Ecuador side, who only lost to Switzerland in injury time. I can't see that working this time either.

Arrows denote difference to real table
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS	Diff	+/-
1.	France	2	2	0	0	3	1	+2	6		0
2.	Switzerland	2	1	0	1	2	1	+1	3		0
3.	Ecuador	2	1	0	1	2	3	-1	3		0
4.	Honduras	2	0	0	2	2	4	-2	0		0

Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: France and Switzerland

Group F

Games	Score	Lawro's prediction
Saturday 21 June
Argentina v Iran	x-x	2-0
Saturday 21 June
Nigeria v Bosnia-Hercegovina	x-x	1-2

Argentina v Iran (21 June, 17:00 BST)

We saw in their opening game against Nigeria that Iran are extremely well organised under Carlos Queiroz. That won't be enough against Argentina, though.

Argentina struggled to get going in the first half against Bosnia-Hercegovina but I would put that down to nerves.

Lionel Messi was not having a good day at the office but, in the second half, he found a bit of a space and scored a wonder goal. Even when he is not playing well, he has the ability to do that, but Argentina need him to do it more often.

Nigeria v Bosnia-Hercegovina (21 June, 23:00 BST)

Having picked Nigeria to get out this group along with Argentina before the tournament, I now think Bosnia-Hercegovina will qualify.

They were hard-working and dangerous against Argentina and had more about them going forward than Nigeria did against Iran.

Arrows denote difference to real table
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS	Diff	+/-
1.	Argentina	2	2	0	0	4	0	+4	6		0
2.	Bosnia-Hercegovina	2	1	0	1	2	3	-1	3		+2
3.	Nigeria	2	1	0	1	2	2	0	3		0
4.	Iran	2	0	0	2	0	3	-3	0		-2

Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Argentina and Nigeria

Group G

Games	Score	Lawro's prediction
Saturday 21 June
Germany v Ghana	x-x	2-0
Monday 22 June
United States v Portugal	x-x	1-0

Germany v Ghana (21 June, 20:00 BST)

Ghana's defeat by the United States means they have to win this - and an open game will suit Germany down to the ground.

Germany's tricky-looking game against Portugal turned into a walk in the park for them, and it is definitely a case of them and one other to qualify for the last 16 now.

United States v Portugal (22 June, 23:00 BST)

I am going to go for a shock and pick the United States to beat Portugal. Jurgen Klinsmann does not have the most talented squad at the tournament but they are greater than the sum of their parts.

Portugal had a shocking start to their World Cup against Germany, and it will be down to Cristiano Ronaldo to save their tournament. I just don't think he is in the shape he needs to be to make a difference.

Arrows denote difference to real table
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS	Diff	+/-
1.	Germany	2	2	0	0	3	0	+3	6		0
2.	United States	2	2	0	0	2	0	+2	6		0
3.	Portugal	2	0	0	2	0	2	-2	0		+1
4.	Ghana	2	0	0	2	0	3	-3	0		-1

Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Germany and the United States

Group H

Games	Score	Lawro's prediction
Sunday 22 June
Belgium v Russia	x-x	1-1
Sunday 22 June
South Korea v Algeria	x-x	0-1

Belgium v Russia (22 June, 17:00 BST)

I tipped both of these teams to win their opening games and I think they will both stay unbeaten for a bit longer. This game will give us the first indication of how good the Belgians might be and they are a team that everybody is looking forward to watching.

South Korea v Algeria (22 June, 20:00 BST)

This is the game that both these sides will see as winnable, but that might mean what could have been an open game will turn into a much tighter one.

I think Algeria might edge it, but both teams will be heading home at the end of the group stage.

Arrows denote difference to real table
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS	Diff	+/-
1.	Belgium	2	1	1	0	3	1	+2	4		0
2.	Russia	2	1	1	0	3	1	+2	4		0
3.	Algeria	2	1	0	1	1	2	-2	3		+1
4.	South Korea	2	0	0	2	0	3	-3	0		-1

Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Belgium and Russia

Source : bbc[dot]com