World Cup 2018: Lawro's predictions for semi-finals
- Published
World Cup 2018 on the BBC |
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Host: Russia Dates: 14 June - 15 July |
Live: Coverage across BBC TV, BBC Radio and BBC Sport website with further coverage on Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. |
BBC Sport football expert Mark Lawrenson is making a prediction for every match in Russia.
Lawro picked the winner in three of the four quarter-finals and six of the eight last-16 ties.
He enjoyed a 46% success rate in the group stage, correctly guessing the outcome of 22 of the 48 games.
Before the tournament, Lawro correctly chose 14 of the 16 teams that reached the first knockout stage, including Brazil - his pick to win the tournament - and England, who he thought would go out in the quarter-finals.
Lawro was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan in Moscow.
Games | Score | Lawro's prediction |
|---|---|---|
Tuesday, 10 July | ||
France v Belgium | 1-0 | 2-0 |
Wednesday, 11 July | ||
Croatia v England | x-x | 1-2 (aet) |
Tuesday, 10 July
France 1-0 Belgium
Lawro's prediction: 2-0
Wednesday, 11 July
Croatia v England (Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow. 19:00 BST KO)
I was at both of Croatia's matches in the knockout stages - their penalty shootout wins over Denmark and Russia.
They have got good players right through their team and, without a doubt, they will be the best team that England have played at this World Cup - I am ignoring the meaningless match against Belgium.
So I think Gareth Southgate's side will have to raise their level from what we have seen so far.
But this just strikes me as one of those games that I really do think England will win by hook or by crook.
Croatia have had extra time in their past two matches, and some of their players looked out on their feet near the end against Russia.
World Cup 2018: Russia 2-2 Croatia (3-4 pens) highlights
I just have a feeling that England will find a way to win. Sometimes I think these things are written - and the way this tournament has opened up for England is one of the reasons it feels like this is their time.
I think their players will realise they will never ever have a better chance of getting into a World Cup final, and also of winning the thing.
While England's results have been a lot better than their performances, that is not a bad thing in a tournament like this. Plus I think they have got a lot left in the tank.
One of the areas where they can improve is by creating more chances in open play. We know they are capable of doing it - it just has not happened yet.
So I do think they will find a way to the final - and if they make it back to Moscow four days later, I think they will win it.
Lawro's prediction: 1-2 (aet)