World Cup 2014: Lawro's predictions - opening games
BBC Sport football expert Mark Lawrenson is predicting the outcome of every game at the 2014 World Cup.
He starts with the opening games in each group, which include the repeat of the 2010 final between holders Spain and the Netherlands, and England's tough-looking start against Italy.
Lawro also picks his two teams to go through from each group into the knockout stage.
He is backing Argentina to win the World Cup, and believes England will reach the quarter-finals.
Lawro was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
Group A
| Games | Score | Lawro's prediction |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 12 June | ||
| Brazil v Croatia | x-x | 2-0 |
| Friday, 13 June | ||
| Mexico v Cameroon | x-x | 1-0 |
Brazil v Croatia (12 June, 21:00 BST)
Brazil are the hosts and a lot of people's favourites, but the pressure and expectation they will have to put up with is massive. I think they will go very close to winning the tournament but it will not be easy for them.
They will get through their first game without any problems, though. This Croatia side is nowhere near as strong as their teams from previous tournaments.
Mexico v Cameroon (13 June, 17:00 BST)
Cameroon have some talented players in their team but I am not sure they have the consistency they need to get out of this group.
The Indomitable Lions can be hit and miss and, if they have a bad day, Mexico have got the quality to punish them.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Brazil | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 2. | Mexico | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 3. | Cameroon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 4. | Croatia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Brazil and Mexico.
Group B
| Games | Score | Lawro's prediction |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, 13 June | ||
| Spain v Netherlands | x-x | 1-1 |
| Friday, 13 June | ||
| Chile v Australia | x-x | 1-0 |
Spain v Netherlands (13 June, 20:00 BST)
I am in Salvador covering this game for the BBC. Because of the importance of the fixture, which is a repeat of the 2010 final, I think both teams will cancel each other out.
Spain lack an outstanding striker and they are not a brilliant side any more but they are still a very, very good team. The Dutch, under new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, will be extremely competitive.
Chile v Australia (13 June, 23:00 BST)
The Australia players will give everything, as always, but they don't have the quality they need, especially in a group like this one. Chile have got enough class to pick them off.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Chile | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 2. | Spain | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3. | Netherlands | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 4. | Australia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Spain and Netherlands.
Group C
| Games | Score | Lawro's prediction |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 14 June | ||
| Colombia v Greece | x-x | 2-0 |
| Sunday, 15 June | ||
| Ivory Coast v Japan | x-x | 1-0 |
Colombia v Greece (14 June, 17:00 BST)
I think the Greeks are ordinary but, even without Radamel Falcao, I am looking forward to watching Colombia. I think they will win their opening game, although I doubt it will be a classic.
Because it is the opening game, Greece will be even more defensive than usual but Colombia have got enough quality in their attack to break them down.
Ivory Coast v Japan (15 June, 02:00 BST)
Ivory Coast still have some fantastic players in their squad but I don't look at them and think they will make a big impact on this World Cup.
Likewise, Japan do not excite me - especially because they do not have a world-class player like Yaya Toure to inspire them. He might make the difference in an otherwise tight match.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Colombia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 2. | Ivory Coast | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 3. | Japan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 4. | Greece | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Colombia and Ivory Coast.
Group D
| Games | Score | Lawro's prediction |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 14 June | ||
| Uruguay v Costa Rica | x-x | 1-1 |
| Saturday, 14 June | ||
| England v Italy | x-x | 1-0 |
Uruguay v Costa Rica (14 June, 20:00 BST)
Costa Rica have lost one of their best players to injury in Alvaro Saborio, who fractured a metatarsal, but I still think they will prove more difficult opponents for Uruguay than people might expect.
Yes, Uruguay have got a lot of attacking talent, but I am not sure Luis Suarez will be fully fit - and defensively they are extremely average.
England v Italy (14 June, 23:00 BST)
This is not the Italy of old and they are not a team that frightens me.
The humidity in Manaus will be a factor but I think England will win. I also think they will top the group and will have a decent tournament.
Without getting ahead of myself, the fact they know a team from Group C is waiting for them in the last 16 is a big positive. Whoever they get, it will be a winnable tie and I think England will get to the quarter-finals, at least.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | England | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 2. | Uruguay | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3. | Costa Rica | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 4. | Italy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: England and Italy.
Group E
| Games | Score | Lawro's prediction |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, 15 June | ||
| Switzerland v Ecuador | x-x | 2-0 |
| Sunday, 15 June | ||
| France v Honduras | x-x | 2-1 |
Switzerland v Ecuador (15 June, 17:00 BST)
The Swiss are ranked sixth in the world and have some highly-rated young players who will all want to prove themselves at a major tournament.
I think they will have too much for Ecuador, who looked impressive in flashes against England last week - but we have to remember that was effectively an England B team in a pre-tournament friendly. I don't think they will cut it in Brazil.
France v Honduras (15 June, 20:00 BST)
Bearing in mind their problems with harmony in their camp at previous tournaments, it is interesting to see what France boss Didier Deschamps has done with his squad for this World Cup. He has left out some good players, such as Manchester City's Samir Nasri, maybe because he does not think they are good tourists.
France could not have a worse tournament than they did in South Africa in 2010, when they went home without winning a game. They will get a victory against Honduras for starters.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Switzerland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 2. | France | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 3. | Honduras | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| 4. | Ecuador | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: France and Switzerland.
Group F
| Games | Score | Lawro's prediction |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, 15 June | ||
| Argentina v Bosnia-Hercegovina | x-x | 2-0 |
| Monday, 16 June | ||
| Iran v Nigeria | x-x | 0-1 |
Argentina v Bosnia-Hercegovina (15 June, 23:00 BST)
Argentina are my pick to win the World Cup. They have sorted out where Lionel Messi plays - behind the front two of Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain - and they have quality right through their team.
Bosnia-Hercegovina have one or two outstanding players but not enough to help them progress through the competition, and certainly not enough to stop Argentina.
Iran v Nigeria (16 June, 20:00 BST)
Nigeria are a bit like Wigan used to be when they were in the Premier League under Roberto Martinez and I had to predict how they would do every week; I never knew what they were going to do.
If they play to their potential, Nigeria should beat Iran, but the clash of playing styles between the two teams means that might not be as straightforward as it seems.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Argentina | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 2. | Nigeria | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 3. | Iran | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 4. | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Argentina and Nigeria.
Group G
| Games | Score | Lawro's prediction |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, 16 June | ||
| Germany v Portugal | x-x | 1-0 |
| Monday, 16 June | ||
| Ghana v United States | x-x | 0-1 |
Germany v Portugal (16 June, 17:00 BST)
Despite his pre-tournament injury worries, Cristiano Ronaldo should play for Portugal - but it is hard to see him being at anything like full fitness.
I am going to throw in a bit of a curveball here because I don't think Portugal will get out of the group. Ronaldo has had a long, hard season and it has taken its toll. And if he is absent at any stage, then about 50% of his country's chances disappear with him.
Ghana v United States (16 June, 23:00 BST)
If Portugal fall flat then that leaves the door open for one of these teams and, having spent a bit of time with United States manager Jurgen Klinsmann, I am backing them to make it out of the group.
The US will be so well prepared and their team spirit is second to none. I think they will see off Ghana and reach the last 16.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Germany | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 2. | United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 3. | Ghana | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 4. | Portugal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Germany and the United States.
Group H
| Games | Score | Lawro's prediction |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, 17 June | ||
| Belgium v Algeria | x-x | 2-0 |
| Tuesday, 17 June | ||
| Russia v South Korea | x-x | 2-0 |
Belgium v Algeria (17 June, 17:00 BST)
Belgium have got some very good players and they also have match-winners. Algeria will not be lacking technically or tactically but I am not sure they will be able to live with Belgium's power.
Russia v South Korea (17 June, 23:00 BST)
I just hope Russia boss Fabio Capello has learned his lesson from the 2010 World Cup when, as England manager, he got his preparation completely wrong.
Capello has some decent players in his squad and Russia should be too strong for South Korea, who have got some skilful players but will have to cope when Russia play rough.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Belgium | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 2. | Russia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 3. | Algeria | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| 4. | South Korea | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Belgium and Russia.
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