World Cup preview: Belgium v Tunisia, South Korea v Mexico, Germany v Sweden

England’s group-mates Belgium and Tunisia are back in action on Saturday as Germany aim to return to winning ways after their shock loss against Mexico.

• 1300 BST Belgium v Tunisia (BBC) (Group G)
• 1600 BST South Korea v Mexico (ITV) (Group F)
• 1900 BST Germany v Sweden (ITV) (Group F)

Belgium threatened to run riot in their opening game thanks to the talents of Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, though their task against Tunisia may be slightly more difficult as the North African team caused England considerable problems with tough tackling and liberal use of gamesmanship.

Tunisia seemed fortunate not to concede any penalties in their opener in a game that posed serious questions to the new VAR system.

In the late afternoon game, South Korea will need to burst out of the blocks with more intensity against Mexico than they did in their defeat against Sweden. Shin Tae-yong’s team seemed, rather puzzlingly, to be playing for a draw in what was arguably their best chance to pick up three points, with their loss leaving them with the daunting task of landing a win in this or their next game.

Mexico will be high on confidence after their stunning win against Germany, playing fast-passing counterattacking football that just tended to lack a finishing touch. Young PSV winger Hirving Lozano impressed, as did West Ham’s Javier Hernandez as well as tireless Porto midfielder Héctor Herrera.

After licking their wounds from their opening loss, defending champions Germany will be expected to bounce back against Sweden or risk following in the footsteps of France’s 2002 squad by failing to go beyond the group stage during the defence of their title.

Jaochim Low’s side deployed baffling tactics in their opening match, with wing backs Marvin Plattenhardt and Joshua Kimmich pushing forward so aggressively that they left huge gaps for Mexico to launch counterattacks into. Expected alterations to the side include the addition of Borussia Dortmund’s pacey and creative forward Marco Reus.

Victor Lindelof’s return from illness will add stability to Sweden’s defence as he is expected to replace Leeds United centre-back Pontus Jansson. The Swedes play a physical game and are likely to line-up defensively on Saturday given that Andreas Granqvist’s penalty was the side’s first goal in 402 minutes of international football, since Ola Toivonen scored against Chile in March.