World Cup Predictions: Spain 2-0 Saudi Arabia, Belgium 2-1 Iran, Uruguay 1-0, Egypt 2-1

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The highly anticipated second round of the World Cup group stage is in full swing, with four matches scheduled tonight in Groups G and H. In the first round of the group stage, all four matches in Groups G and H ended in draws.
The title favorite Spain was held to a 0-0 draw by Cape Verde in their first match, mainly because Yamal and Nico Williams did not start, and the lack of wing breakthroughs caused La Roja to struggle through the middle, firing nearly 30 shots without breaking through the opponent’s solid defense.
In this match, Spain can finally field their strongest lineup, especially with Yamal’s return, which gives Spain’s wings a tough defensive capability, effectively combining wing and central play, and potentially breaking the opponent’s defensive wall. On the other side, Nico Williams has also returned, but his form at Bilbao this season has been quite average, so his impact remains to be seen.
Saudi Arabia also relied on tight defense to hold Uruguay to a 0-0 draw in their first match. Facing a stronger Spain, they are expected to adopt a low-block, parking-the-bus tactic, with little change in formation or personnel.
The projected lineups for both teams are as follows.
Historically, the two teams have faced each other three times, with Spain winning all three, including a 1-0 victory in the 2006 World Cup group stage.
It is predicted that Spain will beat Saudi Arabia in this match, with a score of 2-0.
Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt in their first game, with both teams sharing the points in an attacking battle.
Belgium’s once-golden generation has noticeably declined, relying more on Dries Mertens’ forceful breakthroughs on the wing, while De Bruyne has shown little brilliance outside set pieces. Lukaku, although visibly overweight, still has the physique to serve as a nuisance in the penalty area.
It is likely that Garcia will arrange for Lukaku to start as the center forward, especially to serve as a focal point against Iran’s dense defense.
Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand in their first match. Although the game was exciting, Iran was once overwhelmed by the weaker New Zealand team, revealing that the travel and preparation have significantly affected their stamina and readiness. Iran is likely to adopt a more compact formation, focusing on defense and counterattack.
The projected lineups for both teams are as follows.
From a strength perspective, Belgium has a certain advantage, and Iran’s fatigue from travel makes them a tired team. Therefore, Belgium is favored to win this match, with a score of 2-1.
Cape Verde drew 0-0 with the title favorite Spain in their last game, causing an upset. However, overall, this new World Cup team still has limited strength; their draw was more due to a compact bus-style defense and a bit of luck.
Uruguay also failed to win their first match against similarly defensive Saudi Arabia, ending in a 1-1 draw. Uruguay created many scoring chances but couldn’t find the net. Uruguay’s head coach is the famous “madman” Argentine Bielsa, and it’s expected that Uruguay will continue their high-pressing, aggressive style of play.
The projected lineups for both teams are as follows.
In terms of strength, Uruguay has an advantage, but breaking Cape Verde’s solid defense will not be easy, so a 1-0 score is expected.
Egypt drew 1-1 with Belgium in their first match, with both teams playing back and forth, and Egypt even had the advantage at times.
Undoubtedly, 34-year-old Salah remains the core of this team; his role has evolved into an attacking organizer, using his exquisite skills for the final pass. Additionally, Marmoush has returned to the national team with noticeably improved form, demonstrating high-level shooting and other skills.
Many Egyptian players come from domestic clubs like Cairo National, which are quite strong and have left deep impressions in multiple Club World Cups. Given their decent performance in the first round, Egypt is unlikely to make major changes to their starting lineup.
New Zealand played an exciting, open game against Iran in their first match, but their strength is limited. The most threatening attacking point is Nottingham Forest’s tall striker Chris Wood, who provided two assists. It is expected that Egypt will focus on marking him closely.
The projected lineups for both teams are as follows.
The two teams have met once in a friendly in 2024, with Egypt winning 1-0.
It is predicted that Egypt, with the stronger overall strength, should win this match, with a score of 2-1.