チェコ共和国対メキシコ戦の予想：チェコは既に予選突破を決めている開催国相手に結果を出す必要がある

Group A will come to a close on Wednesday with the Czech Republic desperately hoping to get a result that puts them through to the knockout stage alongside Mexico.

The permutations are these: Mexico are already through as group winners. That's easy.

For the Czechs, it's more complicated. To go through in second place, they have to win this game and hope that South Africa beat South Korea in the other game to kick off at 7pm local time (2am UK time) - but not by so much that they get the edge on the Czech Republic on goal difference or goals scored.

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The more likely route through for the Czechs - on paper at least - is to beat Mexico here and hope that is good enough to earn them a place in the round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed sides.

Either way, anything less than three points at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca seems unlikely to be enough for Miroslav Koubek's side - and that could be a tall order against the co-hosts, who have started the tournament in convincing form.

Score prediction for Czech Republic vs Mexico

The Czech Republic were left frustrated against South Korea and South Africa (Image credit: Getty Images)

Czechia's Achilles heel so far has been their inability to hold onto a lead: they went ahead against both South Korea only to lose 2-1, and held the advantage over South Africa for 77 minutes before Teboho Mokoena equalised from the penalty spot.

With the roars of the home crowd ringing around the stadium, they are only likely to face an even bigger mental challenge here.

What could count in their favour is the fact that Mexico can afford to rest players if head coach Javier Aguirre chooses to do so.

South Korea cannot overhaul Mexico at the top of the table if they finish level on points, thanks to the head-to-head record taking precedence over goal difference.

But Aguirre may well see value in maintaining momentum going into the knockouts - and we have seen in some of the Mexican goal celebrations just what it means to their players to play in front of their own fans at a World Cup.

Mexico have won both of their games so far (Image credit: Getty Images)

Mexico have looked competent and convincing so far, while the Czechs just haven't quite clicked into gear.

The odds are against the Czech Republic, then - and our hunch is that they will be heading home from the tournament earlier than they would have hoped.