World Cup 2014: Lawro's predictions - final group games
BBC Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson is predicting the outcome of every game at the 2014 Fifa World Cup.
Defending champions
Spain
and
England
are already out, but 27 of the 32 teams go into the final round of
group games with something to play for, whether it be a place in the
last 16 or top spot in their group.
The final round of group games include Netherlands playing Chile in Group B, and England against Costa Rica.
Lawro is backing Argentina to win the World Cup and lift the famous trophy at the Maracana on 13 July.
Lawro was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
Group A
| Games | Score | Lawro's prediction |
|---|---|---|
|
Monday, 23 June |
||
|
Cameroon v Brazil |
1-4 |
0-2 |
|
Monday, 23 June |
||
|
Croatia v Mexico |
1-3 |
1-1 |
Read the match report.
Read the match report.
Arrows denote difference to real table |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | Diff | +/- |
|
1. |
Brazil |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
+6 |
9 |
|
0 |
|
2. |
Croatia |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
-1 |
4 |
|
+1 |
|
3. |
Mexico |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
-1 |
4 |
|
-1 |
|
4. |
Cameroon |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
-4 |
0 |
|
0 |
Group B
| Games | Score | Lawro's prediction |
|---|---|---|
|
Monday, 23 June |
||
|
Australia v Spain |
0-3 |
1-2 |
|
Monday, 23 June |
||
|
Netherlands v Chile |
2-0 |
1-1 |
Read the match report.
Read the match report.
Arrows denote difference to real table |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | Diff | +/- |
|
1. |
Spain |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
+3 |
7 |
|
+2 |
|
2. |
Netherlands |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
+2 |
5 |
|
-1 |
|
3. |
Chile |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
-1 |
4 |
|
-1 |
|
4. |
Australia |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
-4 |
0 |
|
0 |
Group C
| Games | Score | Lawro's prediction |
|---|---|---|
|
Tuesday, 24 June |
||
|
Greece v Ivory Coast |
x-x |
0-2 |
|
Tuesday, 24 June |
||
|
Japan v Colombia |
x-x |
0-2 |
Ivory Coast carry a goal threat, and in the last half-hour of their defeat by Colombia, with Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou on with Yaya Toure, they could easily have nicked a draw.
Greece know a win could put them through but they have not been great and, as soon as they go a goal down, it could be game over.
I was at Colombia's win over Ivory Coast in Brasilia and they are another of the teams to have impressed me. Most of their fans seem to be in my hotel, and they kept me awake all night celebrating that victory!
James Rodriguez is a livewire going forward and I like the look of Mario Yepes at the back too.
Japan need to win to have any chance of progressing but I cannot see that happening. I did not think much of them in their first two group games, especially up front where they don't look like they have got enough quality.
Arrows denote difference to real table |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | Diff | +/- |
|
1. |
Colombia |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
+4 |
7 |
|
0 |
|
2. |
Ivory Coast |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
+3 |
7 |
|
0 |
|
3. |
Japan |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
-2 |
3 |
|
0 |
|
4. |
Greece |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
-5 |
0 |
|
0 |
Group D
| Games | Score | Lawro's prediction |
|---|---|---|
|
Tuesday, 24 June |
||
|
Costa Rica v England |
x-x |
2-1 |
|
Tuesday, 24 June |
||
|
Italy v Uruguay |
x-x |
2-2 |
United States boss Jurgen Klinsmann has been saying for a while now that Costa Rica are a good side, and they have shown it in Brazil. They are fast and strong and have been the best team in the group so far.
I tipped England to go through but they have fallen well short and I have a feeling their World Cup will end with another defeat. I am glad people have not torn into them for failing because this tournament is the starting point for that team, not the end.
This is essentially a play-off for a place in the last 16, although a draw will put Italy through on goal difference.
I wonder how much Uruguay's efforts against England will have taken out of them, though having said that Italy were given the run-around by Costa Rica.
I see goals in this game, but ultimately Italy will just about sneak through.
Arrows denote difference to real table |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | Diff | +/- |
|
1. |
England |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
+1 |
6 |
|
+3 |
|
2. |
Italy |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
|
0 |
|
3. |
Uruguay |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
|
0 |
|
4. |
Costa Rica |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
+1 |
4 |
|
-3 |
Group E
| Games | Score | Lawro's prediction |
|---|---|---|
|
Wednesday, 25 June |
||
|
Ecuador v France |
x-x |
0-2 |
|
Wednesday, 25 June |
||
|
Honduras v Switzerland |
x-x |
0-2 |
I am not sure France are the real deal despite the amount of goals they have scored, but it is going to take a good team to beat them.
They are very combative and competitive in midfield, have different options up front and have a very thoughtful manager in Didier Deschamps.
A win will not definitely put Switzerland through, but I think they will make the last 16 because France will beat Ecuador.
The Swiss have got a bit of firepower, and that should see off a Honduras side that have never looked capable of getting out of their group. They are quite entertaining to watch, though, because they just try to kick teams from pillar to post.
Arrows denote difference to real table |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | Diff | +/- |
|
1. |
France |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
+4 |
9 |
|
0 |
|
2. |
Switzerland |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
+3 |
6 |
|
+1 |
|
3. |
Ecuador |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
-3 |
3 |
|
-1 |
|
4. |
Honduras |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
-4 |
0 |
|
0 |
Group F
| Games | Score | Lawro's prediction |
|---|---|---|
|
Wednesday, 25 June |
||
|
Bosnia-Hercegovina v Iran |
x-x |
2-0 |
|
Wednesday, 25 June |
||
|
Nigeria v Argentina |
x-x |
1-1 |
Iran are the team to have parked the bus in Brazil, although they were a bit unlucky to lose to Argentina in their second group game.
Generally, Carlos Queiroz is more concerned about making sure they are extremely difficult to beat, which they have been.
Bosnia-Hercegovina are already out but I don't think they will go quietly and if they create enough chances for Edin Dzeko, eventually he will take one.
Argentina are already through, and Nigeria only need a draw to join them. I think they will get it too.
They will get chances against Argentina, just like Iran did. There is more to come from Argentina but, at the moment, the little genius Lionel Messi is getting them through the games.
Arrows denote difference to real table |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | Diff | +/- |
|
1. |
Argentina |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
+4 |
7 |
|
0 |
|
2. |
Bosnia-Hercegovina |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
+1 |
6 |
|
+2 |
|
3. |
Nigeria |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
|
-1 |
|
4. |
Iran |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
-5 |
0 |
|
-1 |
Group G
| Games | Score | Lawro's prediction |
|---|---|---|
|
Thursday, 26 June |
||
|
Portugal v Ghana |
x-x |
0-0 |
|
Thursday, 26 June |
||
|
United States v Germany |
x-x |
0-2 |
It is absolutely obvious that Cristiano Ronaldo is not fully fit and I do not rate Portugal's chances without him.
Ghana gave it a good go against Germany but their problem was they were going for individual glory rather than making sure they won the game.
The United States were probably hoping Germany had beaten Ghana and were already through by the time they played this one.
I expected the US to get a positive result against Portugal on Sunday but it could be they are depending on what happens in the other match in Group G to see whether they make it into the last 16 or not.
Arrows denote difference to real table |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | Diff | +/- |
|
1. |
Germany |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
+5 |
9 |
|
0 |
|
2. |
United States |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
|
0 |
|
3. |
Portugal |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
-2 |
1 |
|
+1 |
|
4. |
Ghana |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
-3 |
1 |
|
-1 |
Group H
| Games | Score | Lawro's prediction |
|---|---|---|
|
Thursday, 26 June |
||
|
Algeria v Russia |
x-x |
0-2 |
|
Thursday, 26 June |
||
|
South Korea v Belgium |
x-x |
0-2 |
I was very disappointed with the Russians against South Korea. They were very wishy-washy all round and had no outstanding players on the night. I expect better from Fabio Capello's side against Algeria, though.
Belgium left it late against Algeria but it showed one of their strengths - they have the depth to change the game from the bench and there are not too many teams that can do that.
South Korea are well-organised and very fit, but they have no real quality.
Arrows denote difference to real table |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | Diff | +/- |
|
1. |
Belgium |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
+4 |
7 |
|
0 |
|
2. |
Russia |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
+4 |
7 |
|
+1 |
|
3. |
Algeria |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
-3 |
3 |
|
-1 |
|
4. |
South Korea |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
-5 |
0 |
|
0 |
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