Senegal – Netherlands Free Betting Tips
After failing to qualify for the round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup due to accumulating more yellow cards than Japan, Senegal will return to soccer’s biggest event trying to record a better result. This is the first time Senegal has managed to participate in back-to-back World Cups and comes in the midst of a solid year in which it has reached 18th in the FIFA rankings, the highest among CAF teams.
Senegal could enter this tournament in high spirits after being crowned African Cup of Nations champions for the first time in their history earlier this year, although they secured qualification to the World Cup via a playoff, both times defeating Egypt. While Senegal has been labeled as a team capable of having a good tournament, it will have to recover from a major blow, as its main figure Sadio Mané will not be able to participate due to a “right fibula injury,” according to coach Aliou Cissé.
After failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the Netherlands team, coached by Louis van Gaal, is making its long-awaited return to soccer’s biggest competition looking to improve on the third and second place finishes it achieved in its last two appearances. Still undefeated in 2022 (G6, E2), the “Orange” will be hoping for a solid start to this tournament to justify their status as favorites to top Group A.
Without mincing his words, Van Gaal described Qatar’s organization of this tournament as “ridiculous”, but is determined to see his team excel in this competition, insisting that “we don’t have the best players in the world, but I believe in team building and tactics”. The spirit of the Dutch squad seems to have worked in the past, as the Netherlands have never been eliminated from a World Cup at the group stage, and have even reached at least the semifinals in five of their last eight appearances.
Players to watch: Without its flagship player Mané, Senegal will pin its attacking hopes on Ismaila Sarr, who has scored six times at club level this season and scored in the quarterfinals of the recent AFCON. PSV and Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo could be one of the stars of this tournament, as he has already scored 13 goals for his club this season and recorded contributions on goal in three of his five appearances for his national team during 2022 (two goals, one assist).
Big Fact: The Netherlands has lost just two of its previous 19 matches to CAF teams (G12, E5).
World Cup trivia: Only one player in World Cup history scored both a goal for his team and an own goal in the same match, that was Ernie Brandt of the Netherlands in 1978 against Italy.
OVER 2.5 GOALS Odds: 2.00
The odds presented in the prediction may vary at the time of verification.
