Round two of the World Cup group stage saw tournament favourites Brazil record another win, Argentina revive themselves against Mexico and England stutter against the USA. It’s time for the third round of matches, where all will be decided regarding who continues and who goes home. See Last Word on Football’s World Cup predictions for round three with the final group stage standings at stake.
World Cup Predictions for Round Three
Ecuador vs Senegal
Joe Blackburn: 1-2
Joseph Howes: 2-1
Jamie Rooke: 2-1
Jordan Hackett: 2-1
Dan Hepburn: 0-2
This is a big game in group A. With the Netherlands sure to be well-fancied to beat Qatar, it’s likely to decide who joins them in the knockout stages. Senegal haven’t looked at their best yet whilst Ecuador have had a positive start to their World Cup campaign, the South American side could well be more up for this one.
Jordan Hackett
Netherlands vs Qatar
Joe Blackburn: 3-0
Joseph Howes: 3-0
Jamie Rooke: 2-0
Jordan Hackett: 4-0
Dan Hepburn: 3-1
The Netherlands have looked reasonably strong throughout this World Cup, with a couple of minor weaknesses. Qatar have scored at the very least, but don’t provide enough of a threat to make this one of the more controversial World Cup predictions.
Joe Blackburn
Iran vs USA
Joe Blackburn: 1-2
Joseph Howes: 1-2
Jamie Rooke: 1-1
Jordan Hackett: 2-1
Dan Hepburn: 1-0
There aren’t many more games worth watching than the USA clash with Iran. Both sides have it all to play for and it truly could go either way. As boring as it may seem, predicting a draw is the easy way out here.
Jamie Rooke
Wales vs England
Joe Blackburn: 0-2
Joseph Howes: 0-2
Jamie Rooke: 1-3
Jordan Hackett: 1-2
Dan Hepburn: 1-3
Wales need a win against England to qualify, with Gareth Southgate’s men looking fairly comfortable. In spite of the potential for rotation in the squad, England should have enough to beat the Welsh side, with a fairly comfortable 2-0 victory on the cards for the Three Lions.
Joe Blackburn
Tunisia vs France
Joe Blackburn: 0-4
Joseph Howes: 0-3
Jamie Rooke: 0-2
Jordan Hackett: 0-4
Dan Hepburn: 1-4
Tunisia’s opening performance v Denmark – earning a point – was one that suggested they might be underestimated in this group, however, the loss to Australia told a different story. This France side can surely have too much for Tunisia in Qatar. A win would give Didier Deschamps’ side a perfect start.
Jordan Hackett
Australia vs Denmark
Joe Blackburn: 0-2
Joseph Howes: 1-1
Jamie Rooke: 0-1
Jordan Hackett: 0-2
Dan Hepburn: 0-2
Denmark are yet to get a win on the board in Qatar – drawing with Tunisia before losing to France courtesy of a Kylian Mbappe brace – but they are a really solid side and have shown themselves to be a threat in recent years. They can book their place in the knockout stages if they are on song come Wednesday with Christian Eriksen surely expected to get in on the goal involvements in this tournament soon.
Jordan Hackett
Poland vs Argentina
Joe Blackburn: 2-3
Joseph Howes: 1-3
Jamie Rooke: 0-2
Jordan Hackett: 1-3
Dan Hepburn: 1-2
Argentina’s start to the World Cup was not as anticipated, with a shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia. However, they recovered to beat Mexico days later with two impressive goals. The talent at their disposal should see them through this and looking onto bigger things in the knockout stages. Poland haven’t set the world alight in this competition and may be second best.
Jordan Hackett
Saudi Arabia vs Mexico
Joe Blackburn: 1-0
Joseph Howes: 0-1
Jamie Rooke: 2-1
Jordan Hackett: 2-1
Dan Hepburn: 0-1
Mexico have made a habit of qualifying for the knockout rounds. Saudi Arabia stand in their way though and after their shock win over Argentina, anything could happen. The prediction is here that they will cause yet another upset.
Jamie Rooke
Croatia vs Belgium
Joe Blackburn: 1-2
Joseph Howes: 1-0
Jamie Rooke: 0-0
Jordan Hackett: 1-1
Dan Hepburn: 2-2
Belgium have not impressed at all at this World Cup and Croatia’s win over Canada has them top of the group so far. This will likely be a tight encounter. Not the most shocking of World Cup predictions, a score draw.
Jordan Hackett
Canada vs Morocco
Joe Blackburn: 2-0
Joseph Howes: 0-1
Jamie Rooke: 2-2
Jordan Hackett: 1-2
Dan Hepburn: 1-2
Despite impressing for large parts of the tournament, Canada are already eliminated going into the final game. Morocco on the other hand have a lot on the line, that win over Belgium being a famous one indeed. With the pressure off, John Herdman’s side may finally get a result they deserve in Qatar.
Jamie Rooke
Japan vs Spain
Joe Blackburn: 1-3
Joseph Howes: 1-4
Jamie Rooke: 1-1
Jordan Hackett: 1-2
Dan Hepburn: 1-3
Japan are a side that look like relying on counter-attacking play to have an impact. Although Spain will offer a couple of counter-attacking opportunities, they have plenty of strength at the back to hold firm. 3-1 to Spain.
Joe Blackburn
Costa Rica vs Germany
Joe Blackburn: 0-3
Joseph Howes: 1-1
Jamie Rooke: 0-4
Jordan Hackett: 0-3
Dan Hepburn: 1-2
Germany stuttered in their opening game, losing to Japan. However, they recovered to draw with Spain – who had beaten Costa Rica 7-0 – that says a lot about what to expect from Germany’s opponents in this game, despite their surprise win over Japan last time out.
Jordan Hackett
South Korea vs Portugal
Joe Blackburn: 2-1
Joseph Howes: 1-4
Jamie Rooke: 1-1
Jordan Hackett: 1-2
Dan Hepburn: 1-2
South Korea have only taken a point from their games against Uruguay and Ghana and are sure to find things even more difficult against group H leaders Portugal. They cut it close in their opener v Ghana but Portugal have shown they have the talent to make it to the knockout stage with a 100% win record.
Jordan Hackett
Ghana vs Uruguay
Joe Blackburn: 4-2
Joseph Howes: 1-2
Jamie Rooke: 3-1
Jordan Hackett: 2-1
Dan Hepburn: 1-2
Ghana have been really impressive in this competition so far and can be trusted to take Uruguay all the way. They can outperform their odds here and record a win, securing their place in the knockouts. Uruguay have struggled to get going and may not this year.
Jordan Hackett
Serbia vs Switzerland
Joe Blackburn: 1-2
Joseph Howes: 2-1
Jamie Rooke: 1-1
Jordan Hackett: 1-1
Dan Hepburn: 1-1
This game is likely to be a tight one and a score draw feels like the easy option. That would likely see Switzerland progress in this game which is likely to be a decider for both nations’ fate in Qatar.
Jordan Hackett
Cameroon vs Brazil
Joe Blackburn: 0-3
Joseph Howes: 0-2
Jamie Rooke: 0-2
Jordan Hackett: 0-3
Dan Hepburn: 1-3
Brazil may not have covered themselves in expected glory when beating Switzerland 1-0 in round two of the group stage but they’ve shown already in this tournament their strength in depth and Casemiro’s strike just shows their goals can come from anywhere. They are tournament favourites for a reason and even with Neymar absent, they can record a comfortable win here and maintain a 100% win record in group G.
Jordan Hackett
Last Word on Football recognise Qatar’s human rights abuses and instances of corruption taking place throughout the nation and in the background of the World Cup. Learn more about some of the issues surrounding the World Cup here.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
