World Cup 2022: Who will get their tournament off to a flying start on Monday?

Greg Lea

20 November 2022

Senegal v Netherlands

Kick-off: 4pm Monday

Senegal have been rocked by Sadio Mane’s injury, which was sustained during the penultimate round of Bundesliga fixtures. Abdoulaye Sow, an official from the Senegalese Football Federation, has confirmed that the team’s talisman will miss the World Cup in Qatar.

That is a huge blow for Senegal. The Lions of Teranga are certainly not a one-man team, but they do heavily rely upon Mane for goals and creativity in the final third. Aliou Cisse’s team have a better defensive than attacking record even with the Bayern man in the starting XI, so we can expect them to lean even more heavily than normal on their solidity and resolve in this game.

The Netherlands have gone a little under the radar in the build-up to the World Cup, but that will suit them just fine. Louis van Gaal’s side are in fine form and will be quietly confident of going far this winter.

In his third spell in charge of the national team, the septuagenarian has again adopted a three-man backline, which is unlikely to find space for Matthijs de Ligt. Virgil van Dijk will start in the centre, with Jurrien Timber and either Nathan Ake or Daley Blind on the other side of the Liverpool stopper.

Senegal will find it difficult to penetrate their opponents’ rearguard, so back the Netherlands to keep a clean sheet in their first game at the tournament.

Prediction: Netherlands clean sheet @ 1.92

USA v Wales

Kick-off: 7pm Monday

With England favourites to finish top of Group B and Iran the outsiders, the outcome of this match could go a long way to determining the fate of the USA and Wales. A win would put either side in a strong position to advance to the round of 16, while a defeat would leave them playing catch-up.

After the USA missed out on Russia 2018, new manager Gregg Berhalter pivoted towards youth. His side is capable of playing high-tempo, high-energy football, but at times they struggle to score goals – particularly away from home. Indeed, the USA failed to score in trips to Mexico, Canada, Panama, El Salvador and Costa Rica in qualifying.

Berhalter’s squad does contain attacking talent, though, with Premier League duo Brenden Aaronson and Christian Pulisic likely to start either side of Jesus Ferreira up front.

Wales will again be heavily reliant on Gareth Bale at this tournament. The former Real Madrid man has not played as much at Los Angeles as Rob Page would have wanted, but his three goals in the qualification play-offs evidenced his enduring quality.

Page must decide whether to field Bale, Brennan Johnson and Dan James as a speedy, fluid front three, or whether to drop one of the trio and start Kieffer Moore as a target man. Either way, Wales are most dangerous when they break forward at pace in transition.

Given that defeat would be a bad result for both the USA and Wales, we can expect the team that concedes first to push hard for an equaliser. On balance, both teams to score looks like the best choice here.

Prediction: Both teams to score @ 2.14