World Cup 2022 score predictions: Chris Sutton predicts the opening round of group games in Qatar

BBC Sport shot adept Chris Sutton is predicting the result of each 64 games astatine the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

Sutton besides picks his 2 teams to spell done from each radical into the knockout stage.

He is backing Brazil to win the World Cup, believes England volition scope the quarter-finals and thinks Wales will not get retired of their group.

GROUP A

Sutton's pre-tournament picks: Netherlands (winners) and Senegal (runners-up). Ecuador to decorativeness third, and Qatar fourth.

Qatar v Ecuador (20 November, 16:00 GMT)

Qatar person to anticipation that location vantage pays disconnected for them, but I precise overmuch uncertainty it. It's going to beryllium precise hard for them to get retired of this radical - successful fact, I deliberation they volition decorativeness bottom.

Ecuador are rather a defensive-minded squad truthful determination won't beryllium galore goals successful this opening game, but they should inactive find a mode of winning it.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Senegal v Netherlands (21 November, 16:00)

I americium astatine this 1 - this is the archetypal crippled I'm co-commentating connected for BBC Radio 5 Live astatine the World Cup.

Sadio Mane is retired of the tourney which is simply a immense stroke to Senegal. They won the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this twelvemonth but they struggled to people goals, adjacent with him successful the team.

Senegal are defensively beardown and don't concede galore either, but that deficiency of cutting borderline mightiness outgo them if they get to the knockout stages.

I'm precise assured the Netherlands volition scope the past 16 though, and I deliberation they could astonishment a fewer radical astatine this tournament.

It sounds unusual saying the Dutch are acheronian horses present due to the fact that they traditionally person specified a beardown planetary side, but I americium not truthful definite that has been the lawsuit successful caller years.

You look done this squad though, and they person truthful galore talented players. If they click, they tin spell acold - and they should get disconnected to a winning commencement here.

Sutton's prediction: 0-2

GROUP B

Sutton's pre-tournament picks: England (winners) and United States (runners-up). Iran to decorativeness third, and Wales fourth.

England v Iran (21 November, 13:00)

This is not arrogance but I americium expecting England volition triumph each their radical games and americium hoping they physique immoderate momentum arsenic the tourney progresses.

Having said that, the centre-back presumption terrifies maine and I deliberation everyone is waiting to spot if Gareth Southgate volition spell with 3 oregon 4 astatine the back, and whether Harry Maguire starts against Iran.

There is simply a beardown anticipation Maguire whitethorn do, but helium has not played capable games for Manchester United this play truthful is helium going to usage these radical games to enactment his mode backmost to sharpness? England request to triumph them, and they cannot spend immoderate mistakes.

Iran drew with Portugal astatine the past World Cup truthful this should not beryllium seen arsenic a pushover, and they are good organised with a menace up beforehand successful the signifier of Porto striker Mehdi Taremi.

England person much prime passim their team, but I don't deliberation they volition find it easy, particularly successful their archetypal game.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

USA v Wales (21 November, 19:00)

For me, it's each connected this archetypal crippled for Wales astir whether they scope the past 16 oregon not, and what worries maine astir is the fittingness of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen.

Wales person got immoderate different susceptible players and they volition beryllium trying to find Kieffer Moore and get the likes of Daniel James and Brennan Johnson moving disconnected him.

That worked successful qualifying but, to marque an interaction successful Qatar, they truly request large performances from Bale, Ramsey and Allen and I americium not definite they are successful the signifier to bash that. I americium besides not definite yet who could measurement up if they don't.

If Wales triumph this game, I deliberation they spell done - but I don't deliberation they will. The United States are a young squad and astir of them are caller to a World Cup excessively truthful it volition beryllium close, but I'm going for the US to borderline it.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

GROUP C

Sutton's pre-tournament picks to spell through: Argentina (winners) and Mexico (runners-up). Poland to decorativeness third, and Saudi Arabia fourth.

Argentina v Saudi Arabia (22 November, 10:00)

Saudi Arabia got thumped 5-0 by Russia successful their opening crippled of the 2018 World Cup and they indispensable beryllium disquieted they are going to get the aforesaid attraction present from Lionel Messi and co.

Messi is the communicative of course, and everyone is talking astir whether this volition beryllium his year, but the full Argentina squad are playing well, scoring tons of goals and connected a agelong unbeaten tally - that volition not beryllium nether menace here.

Sutton's prediction: 3-0

Mexico v Poland (22 November, 16:00)

Mexico person got an experienced broadside but they person not been successful large signifier of late.

Poland are not precisely flying either, and their hopes truly remainder with Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski and Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski, who has been terrific this season.

So, this radical is hard to call. I'm going for Mexico to instrumentality 2nd spot down Argentina, but I deliberation they volition commencement with a draw.

Sutton's prediction: 0-0

GROUP D

Sutton's pre-tournament picks to spell through: France (winners) and Denmark (runners-up). Australia 3rd and Tunisia fourth.

Denmark v Tunisia (22 November, 13:00)

Tunisia's spot is astatine the backmost and Ellyes Skhiri, who sits successful beforehand of their defence, is simply a cardinal antheral for them.

Denmark's main task volition beryllium to interruption them down, but I americium expecting Christian Eriksen to find a mode through.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

France v Australia (22 November, 19:00)

Australia person not picked West Bromwich Albion midfielder Tom Rogic, which is simply a mistake. His erstwhile Celtic team-mate Aaron Mooy did marque the squad though, and his acquisition volition help.

Graham Arnold's broadside travel into the World Cup connected the backmost of 5 consecutive wins, truthful they volition beryllium arsenic assured arsenic they could be... astatine slightest until they tally into France.

As I've said, the holders are my extremity to triumph it again. It would beryllium a large daze if they didn't commencement with a victory.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

GROUP E

Sutton's pre-tournament picks to spell through: Spain (winners) and Japan (runners-up). Germany 3rd and Costa Rica fourth.

Germany v Japan (22 November, 13:00)

People are calling Group B the radical of decease based connected squad rankings but this 1 seems overmuch harder.

Most radical volition astir apt expect Germany to articulation Spain successful the past 16, but don't underestimate Japan, who person got immoderate talented method players.

I americium conscionable not definite astir this Germany side. They mightiness gel successful Qatar but their erratic signifier successful the past 12 months oregon truthful suggests they could beryllium thing of a brushed interaction - Japan volition person immoderate chances here.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Spain v Costa Rica (22 November, 16:00)

Spain person got immoderate breathtaking young endowment successful midfield. I interest astir them a spot defensively, but Costa Rica are improbable to supply excessively terrible a test.

Costa Rica are rather a nonstop broadside erstwhile they bash onslaught but they usually beryllium deep, and they are different broadside who don't people a batch of goals.

Sutton's prediction: 3-0

GROUP F

Sutton's pre-tournament picks to spell through: Belgium (winners) and Croatia (runners-up). Morocco to decorativeness 3rd and Canada fourth.

Morocco v Croatia (23 November, 10:00)

Morocco were the hipster squad astatine the 2018 World Cup and were unlucky to spell retired astatine the radical stage. They inactive play unfastened and expansive shot truthful they should beryllium conscionable arsenic entertaining this clip around.

This is simply a tricky 1 to telephone due to the fact that they mightiness conscionable get thing retired of Croatia, who person got immoderate younger players to spell with the acquisition of the survivors from the broadside that reached the last successful 2018. I americium not definite yet what to expect from them.

This is simply a radical wherever thing would truly astonishment me, though connected insubstantial you would deliberation astatine slightest 1 of the 2 European teams goes through.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Belgium v Canada (23 November, 19:00)

Forget Morocco due to the fact that Canada are the hipster squad astatine this tournament, and it is bully to spot them backmost astatine a World Cup for the archetypal clip since Mexico 1986.

I person got them down arsenic finishing 4th successful Group F but I americium not ruling them retired of causing a daze oregon 2 if Alphonso Davies is acceptable and Jonathan David tin get among the goals.

Belgium are rather an evident prime arsenic radical winners and they should surely triumph this opening game, but I person got reservations astir them successful defence - Roberto Martinez inactive relies a batch connected Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, who are some getting connected a spot now.

Going forward, determination are a mates of doubts too. Romelu Lukaku is carrying an wounded and it feels similar a agelong clip since we saw Eden Hazard astatine his champion - truthful they are astir apt not going into this World Cup arsenic beardown arsenic they were astatine the past one.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

GROUP G

Sutton's pre-tournament picks to spell through: Brazil (winners) and Serbia (runners-up). Switzerland to decorativeness 3rd and Cameroon fourth.

Switzerland v Cameroon (24 November, 10:00)

Switzerland knocked France retired of Euro 2020 connected their mode to the quarter-finals but I don't spot them having the aforesaid interaction astatine this World Cup.

Xherdan Shaqiri has been their go-to antheral for the past fewer years but helium is playing successful the MLS present truthful a batch volition remainder connected the shoulders of Granit Xhaka - who has been superb for Arsenal this play - and young Red Bull Salzburg striker Noah Okafor, who is decidedly a subordinate to watch.

Let's look it, these 2 sides and Serbia are astir apt playing for 2nd spot successful the radical down Brazil - but I don't deliberation Cameroon's defence is rather beardown capable to get them done to the past 16.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Brazil v Serbia (24 November, 19:00)

Serbia don't person that overmuch spot successful extent successful their squad but they person got truthful galore talented players successful their strongest XI, and astatine set-pieces they volition beryllium a large danger.

They mightiness springiness Brazil a scare oregon 2 here, though I americium not expecting immoderate surprises with the extremity result.

Brazil are successful fantabulous form, and person lone mislaid 1 of their past 29 games - the 2021 Copa America last against Argentina.

Neymar is the champion diver astatine this World Cup but helium is scoring tons of goals excessively - and we volition astir apt spot him bash a spot of some implicit the adjacent fewer weeks.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

GROUP H

Sutton's pre-tournament picks to spell through: Portugal (winners) and South Korea (runners-up). Uruguay 3rd and Ghana fourth.

Uruguay v South Korea (24 November, 13:00)

This is an highly unfastened radical and I changed my caput a mates of times astir who would spell through.

Uruguay's aging frontline of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani counts against them, but South Korea deficiency a cutting borderline excessively contempt being capable to power games done their possession.

We don't cognize if Son Heung-min is capable to commencement this crippled against Uruguay, but his signifier for Spurs was patchy this play adjacent earlier helium fractured his oculus socket.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Portugal v Ghana (24 November, 16:00)

At fig 61 successful the world, Ghana are the lowest-ranked squad successful the tourney and this is simply a hard crippled for them to footwear disconnected with.

Portugal person got immoderate world-class players successful their squad but I americium not definite however things volition acceptable unneurotic with Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been successful atrocious signifier for Manchester United and has thrown his toys retired of the pram. He seems to beryllium blaming everyone other for that, alternatively than himself.

At 37, Ronaldo is not the subordinate helium erstwhile was, but helium volition beryllium hopeless to execute good astatine this World Cup aft what has happened successful the past fewer months.

He loves to beryllium the centre of attraction but present helium has to fto his shot bash the talking, which helium hasn't done this season.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

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