Racing Post

5 APPEALING BETS FOR THE WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE

Liam Flin

NETHERLANDS v Senegal Group A | Monday, Nov 21

Netherlands will have been content with drawing Qatar and Ecuador in Group A but their opening opponents Senegal are expected to put up a fight.

Winners of the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, Senegal take on the Dutch on the second day of the tournament and bookmakers are showing the Lions of Teranga too much respect.

But the Netherlands look a well-oiled machine under Louis van Gaal, winning five of their six games in their recent Nations League camapaign against fellow finalists Belgium, Poland and Wales.

SWITZERLAND v Cameroon Group G | Thursday, Nov 24

Group G looks like one of the more competitive sections at the World Cup and an opening win over Cameroon could be key for Switzerland, who then face Brazil and Serbia.

The Swiss are doing everything they can to start the tournament on the front foot, playing a friendly against Ghana, and they were superb in the recent Nations League, winning their final three matches against Portugal, Spain and Czech Republic.

POLAND v Saudi Arabia Group C | Saturday, Nov 26

Given their recent World Cup record the tempered enthusiasm around Poland’s campaign is understandable, but they look a good price to see off Saudi Arabia in their second match in Group C.

The Poles last made it out of a World Cup group stage in 1986, but with Robert Lewandowski in your team there is always hope and they showed their class in a Nations League victory over Wales in September.

A positive performance in their opener against an ageing Mexico team would likely see their price to beat Saudi Arabia contract, so it may be worth taking now.

USA v Iran Group B | Tuesday, Nov 29

USA will be targeting the last 16 in Qatar but it is unlikely they will be able to rest on their laurels in their final Group B match against Iran.

Even if the Stars and Stripes were to beat both Wales and England in their first two matches, there is still incentive to win this one to secure top spot, with the betting suggesting the Group B runners-up will play Netherlands in the first knockout round.

CANADA v Morocco Group F | Thursday, Dec 1

Having last played at a World Cup in 1986, Canada are an unknown entity to many and plenty of pundits are anticipating them to make a swift exit.

But in Jonathan David, Alphonso Davies and Cyle Larin they possess some seriously talented attacking players and spirited performances against Belgium and Croatia in their first two group games could see them cut to win their final Group F contest against Morocco.

With that in mind, they could be worth backing now to get the better of an Atlas Lions side beaten 3-0 in June by the United States, who finished below Canada in Concacaf qualifying.

WORLD CUP 2022 GROUP-STAGE ODDS & FORMGUIDE

en-gb

2022-11-17T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-11-17T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://racingpost.pressreader.com/article/282810720267467

Racing Post