USA – Wales Free Betting Tips
After failing to qualify for the 2018 edition. The United States returns to a FIFA World Cup in Qatar. They qualified directly for the competition, but had nothing to spare as they only finished above Costa Rica thanks to their better goal difference. However, the “Stars and Stripes” could now go into this competition with a lot of confidence, as they have advanced past the group stage in four of the last seven World Cups they have played in.
The team coached by Gregg Berhalter did not play any friendly preparation matches, and as such, they face the World Cup preceded by a below-standard performance: they have not won any of their last three international matches (E2, P1), scoring only once in that period. Facing Wales could be a morale booster for the North American side, as the U.S. has never lost to this opponent (G1, E1), but they also have a dismal record in their recent World Cup encounters with European teams – they have failed to win any of their last nine games against such opponents (E4, P5).
It’s a big day for Robert Page, who will become the first coach to lead Wales to a World Cup since Jimmy Murphy in 1958 in what will be the Dragons’ second appearance at a World Cup finals. “The Red Wall” helped them roar through the two playoff matches that stamped Wales’ qualification to Qatar, where they overcame Austria and Ukraine, and he may be confident of their chances of progressing beyond the group stage, having achieved such a feat at Euro 2016 and 2020.
Wales also made it to the round of 16 in their only previous World Cup appearance in 1958, winning a tiebreaker with Hungary to reach the quarterfinals. Standing in their way back then were eventual champions Brazil, and soccer legend Pele was the last player to score against the “Dragons” in a World Cup. Replicating the spirit of 1958 and a possible qualification to the knockout stage will surely be on the minds of Welsh fans after such a long absence from the world’s biggest soccer competition.
Players to watch: Nicknamed “Captain America,” Christian Pulisic is the USA’s big name and hope for what will be their debut in a World Cup finals – he records 19 direct contributions on goal in 23 CONCACAF Qualifiers matches (G12, A7). Gareth Bale fills the same role for Wales, and the forward warmed up by scoring a goal in the MLS Cup final, in addition to scoring two of Wales’ three goals in the World Cup playoffs.
Fast Fact: Wales has lost just one of its last seven games against non-European teams and has conceded just two goals in that span (G3, E3).
World Cup trivia: The first player to score a hat trick in a World Cup finals was American Bert Patenaude. He did it against Paraguay in the 1930 World Cup.
USA-Win Odds: 2.00
The odds presented in the prediction may vary at the time of verification.
