World Cup Group A: Dutch to coast through to last 16

World Cup Qatar 2022 begins on the 21st November and here at BettingOdds.com we will have unrivalled coverage of this huge sporting occasion including team/group previews, match betting prediction and props, bet-builders and ante post markets. Here we preview Group A...

Team Profiles:

Netherlands 

To qualify: 1/8

To win Group A: 1/2

To win World Cup: 15/1

World Cup appearances: 11

Best performance: Runners-up (1974, 1978, 2010)

Head Coach: Louis van Gaal

Star player: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona)

Golden Boot favourite: Memphis Depay (Barcelona) - 42 Int. goals - 28/1

Our verdict: Louis van Gaal has his men absolutely purring at just the right time approaching Qatar. They are unbeaten in 13 games, since a disappointing Euro 2020 exit to Czech Republic and sit atop their Nations League group after a convincing win over Belgium and last minute wins over Wales. The Oranje are the nearly men of World Football, finishing runners up on three occasions but could they finally go one stage further and win the whole thing in Qatar? 

They should have no problems navigating what looks a fairly easy group for them and setting up a potential last 16 match against Wales or the USA. Depay should score bagful's of goals in this group and is a decent outside bet for Golden Boot. 

Senegal 

To qualify: 5/6

To win Group A: 9/2

To win World Cup: 80/1

World Cup appearances: 3

Best performance: Quarter-Finals (2002)

Head Coach: Aliou Cissé

Star player: Sadio Mané (Bayern Munich)

Golden Boot favourite: Sadio Mané, 33 int. goals, 66/1 

Our verdict: The current AFCON champions are in fine fettle right now and will come to this tournament full of confidence and believe that they can qualify from Group A. Getting the monkey off their back in Cameroon will allow this squad to relax a little and another penalty win over Egypt to qualify for Qatar, will instil the belief that if it goes to the knockout stages they can get the job done from the spot should it require it.

The team possesses plenty of quality but they have struggled for goals at times. They should qualify from the group but will likely face England in the last 16 which could be a step too far. New Bayern Munich man Mané will need to be inspired if they are to go any further in the competition. 

Ecuador

To qualify: Evens

To win Group A: 6/1

To win World Cup: 279/1

World Cup appearances: 4

Best performance: Last 16 (2006)

Head Coach: Gustavo Alfaro

Star player: Enner Valencia (Fenerbahçe)

Golden Boot favourite: Enner Valencia (Fenerbahçe), 35 int. goals, 250/1 

Our verdict: Ecuador finished fourth in CONMEBOL qualifying above some strong teams in Peru, Colombia and Chile and had some impressive home results against the likes of Argentina and Brazil. They will of course lose some of the advantage of playing at altitude but will be used to the warm muggy conditions in Doha. They have a fairly experienced squad and a good mix of players player in South America and others playing around the world. Fenerbahçe striker Valencia remains the fulcrum of this team and he will need to add to his 35 goals should they be wanting to progress.

We can't see La Tricolor finishing above Senegal or the Dutch and the best they can really hope for is a win over Qatar and third place. 

Qatar

To qualify: 6/1

To win Group A: 20/1

To win World Cup: 350/1

World Cup appearances: 1

Best performance: First appearance

Head Coach: Félix Sánchez 

Star player: Akram Afif (Al-Sadd)

Golden Boot favourite: Almoez Ali (Al-Duhail), 39 int. goals, 250/1 

Our verdict: The hosts have only once failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup finals - South Africa back in 2010- but this looks a fearsome prospect for the Qatari's. They come into the tournament in decent recent form having won the Asian Cup back in 2019 and then reaching the Gold Cup and Arab Cup Semi-Finals in 2021. Qatar have faced controversy in the past for playing 'naturalised' players born outside the nation but this has reduced significantly in recent years and the majority of the squad is now formed of home-grown players. 

One player born outside Qatar is top scorer Almoez Ali who was born in Sudan before moving to the country as a child. He is the record top scorer for Qatar and will be their chief goal threat here. The best Qatar can really hope for is an opening day victory over Ecuador. I can't see them getting anything against Senegal or the Dutch.

BettingOdds.com Group A Prediction:

1. Netherlands

2. Senegal

3. Ecuador

4. Qatar