World Cup 2018: Lawro predicts the opening round of group games - BBC Sport
BBC Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson gives his predictions for the first round of group games at the World Cup.
Last updated on .From the section World Cup

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BBC Sport football expert Mark Lawrenson is predicting the outcome of all 64 games at the 2018 Fifa World Cup.

He starts with the opening games in each group, which include a mouth-watering all-Iberian encounter between Portugal and Spain, holders Germany against Mexico, and England versus Tunisia. All of those games are live on BBC TV and BBC Radio 5 live.

Lawro also picks his two teams to go through from each group into the knockout stage.

He is backing Brazil to win the World Cup, and believes England will reach the quarter-finals.

Lawro was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan in Moscow.
• None Predict who will win the World Cup

Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Uruguay (winners) and Russia (runners-up)

Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Spain (winners) and Portugal (runners-up)

Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: France (winners) and Denmark (runners-up)

Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Argentina (winners) and Croatia (runners-up)

Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Brazil (winners) and Switzerland (runners-up)

Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Germany (winners) and Mexico (runners-up)

Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Belgium (winners) and England (runners-up)

Lawro's pre-tournament picks to go through: Colombia (winners) and Poland (runners-up)