2022 World Cup Group A Odds and Predictions

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Rick Rockwell
Rick Rockwell in Soccer
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Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A

When the 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Qatar on Sunday, November 20, the first match will Come from Group A. And it will be between host nation Qatar and Ecuador from Al Bayt Stadium (Grass) in Al Khor (FS1, Peacock, 19:00; 7 ET/6 CT/4 PST).

Although it’s not the sexiest way to begin the biggest single sporting event on planet Earth, it is what it is and the bottom line is that the loser of this lid-lifting match in the Group Stage may be in a lot of trouble one day into the tournament.

A Draw and a point may be the best thing for both.

Why? Group A has one really good team, the Netherlands (-220 to win 2022 FIFA World Cup, BetOnline), two very average ones in Senegal (4/1) and Ecuador (+550), and another, Qatar (14/1), who wouldn’t even be participating the tournament if it wasn’t the host nation.

In a nutshell, Group A will see Netherlands moving on to the Knockout Stage and be the only team with any chance to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Ecuador and Senegal should fight for that second berth on to the Knockout Stage in early December.

Group A action will take place from Sunday, November 20 through Tuesday, November 29 and will see six matches played between the four teams to determine who survives and who will be eliminated.

Here are your 2022 World Cup Group A odds from BetOnline, one of the top FIFA World Cup betting sites chock full of Futures, Props and individual match odds for the prestigious and much-watched international Soccer Tournament.

2022 World Cup Group A Odds

TeamOdds
Netherlands-220
Senegal+400
Ecuador+550
Qatar+1400

The winner of Group A will move on to the Round of 16 (Knockout Stage) and face the runner-up from Group B (England, USA, Iran, Wales). The runner-up from Group A will play the winner of Group B in the next round. England are the favorites to win Group B at -250 betting odds.

Let’s preview the four teams here and offer up some World Cup Group A predictions. To help with your appreciation and understanding of this huge event—moved to the late Fall because of the oppressive heat in Qatar in the Summer—we have compiled this FIFA World Cup Viewers Guide.

Netherlands -220

  • Confederation: UEFA
  • Pot: 2
  • Method of Qualification: UEFA Group G winners
  • World Cup Appearances: 11
  • Last Appearance: 2014
  • Best Performance: Runners-up (1974, 1978, 2010)
  • FIFA Rankings: #8
  • Odds to Win World Cup: 14/1

Netherlands is the clear-cut favorite in Group A and a 3-0-0 performance and all 9 points would surprise nobody here. Coached by Louis van Gaal, the Oranje are led by captain Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) and are pretty good but not elite as previous Netherlands national team incarnations.

The Dutch will face their biggest test in the opener and match 2 in the tourney against Senegal on Monday, November 21 from Al Thumama Stadium in Doha (19:00). This will be the first meeting ever between the European and African teams.

World Cup Group A odds favorite Netherlands is favored over underdogs Senegal in that opening match for both, with the Oranje big -145 favorites in the 3-way betting market. Senegal is priced at +490, the Draw at +265 with the Total (Over/Under) set at 2½u -125 at BetOnline.

Head Coach van Gaal has switched his tactical formation for the flying Dutchmen to a 3-4-1-2, so expect a more offensive approach with just three on the backline and four players in the very talented Holland Midfield.

Although the final squad announcement has yet to take place, the starting Goalkeeper for Clockwork Orange may be veteran Jasper Cillessen (NEC) who has 63 Caps, and their best outfield players are van Dilk, CM Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), and Memphis Depay (Barcelona).

In its last 12 matches leading up to the World Cup over the past two years, the Oranje have gone an unbeaten 7-3-0 and that includes two wins over Belgium and a Draw with Germany, two very talented UEFA clubs. This team will head into the group stage expecting to win it and go 3-0-0.

Senegal 4/1

  • Confederation: CAF
  • Pot: 3
  • Method of Qualification: CAF Third Round winners
  • World Cup Appearances: 3
  • Last Appearance: 2018
  • Best Performance: Quarterfinals 2002
  • FIFA Rankings: #18
  • Odds to Win World Cup: 80/1

Senegal can definitely win Group A and an upset of Netherlands in the opener would shock some, but not all as the Lions of Teranga are a very underappreciated team.

Coached by Aliou Cissé, Senegal is led by Captain and CB Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea) and will face aforementioned Group A favorite Netherlands in their opener on November 21. One huge thing to remember here is that even if Senegal loses to the Dutch, they are still very much alive.

Great betting opportunities against Ecuador and Qatar may follow. With Edouard Mendy (Chelsea) in goal, Koulibaly a threat with his long diagonals and the talented Sadio Mané (Bayern Munich), the Lions of Teranga (4/1 to win Group A) may be the surprise winners of Group A.

In 2022 action, the Senegal national team has gone 8-6-2, only losing to Zambia and Mo Salah (Liverpool)and Egypt—who did not qualify for this upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup. Cheikhou Kouyaté and the African champions will be a good team to back, maybe just not in the opener.

And remember, no African team has ever won the World Cup, so expecting Senegal to maybe make the Round of 8 is believable but the Round of 4 would be major news.


Ecuador +550

  • Confederation: CONMEBOL
  • Pot: 4
  • Method of Qualification: CONMEBOL Round Robin, 4th place
  • World Cup Appearances: 4
  • Last Appearance: 2014
  • Best Performance: Round of 16 (2008)
  • FIFA Rankings: #44
  • Odds to Win World Cup: 200/1

Ecuador will need great games against Netherlands and Senegal to have a chance to win Group A and a loss or a draw against Qatar in Match 1 of the tournament would be a hard pill to swallow for Ecuador (11/2 to win Group A). Alexander Domínguez (67 caps) should be La Tri’s starting GK.

Head Coach Gustavo Alfaro and La Tri are led by 35-cap Captain Enner Valencia (Fenerbahçe), Michael Estrada (Cruz Azul), and José Cifuentes (2022 MLS champions LAFC) and are known for their solid set pieces and very talented wingers.

In 2022 national team action leading up to this World Cup, Ecuador has gone a very Draw-heavy 2-6-1, losing only to Paraguay over that span in extremely low-scoring matches (three 0-0 games, two 1-0 games, and three 1-1 games).

Betting the Unders in Ecuador fixtures is a solid betting approach and taking that opener against Qatar to go Under 2, 2½ goals is strongly advised as it seems 3 goals in that potentially boring game may be the maximum number scored. A 0-0 opener is also very possible. We yawn together.

Ecuador declined an invitation to play in the first-ever FIFA World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay. Peru and Chile appealed for Ecuador not to play in the World Cup due to the eligibility of a player but that was just rejected on Tuesday, November 8.

Qatar 14/1

  • Confederation: AFC
  • Pot: 1
  • Method of Qualification: Tournament hosts (automatic entry)
  • World Cup Appearances: 1
  • Last Appearance: None
  • Best Performance: N/A
  • FIFA Rankings: #50
  • Odds to Win World Cup: 400/1

The much-improved hosts will be making their first FIFA World Cup appearance and they play a very Spanish style of the beautiful game. But can they shock the world in front of the Home crowds? No. Let’s not romanticize the 50th-ranked team in a tournament of 32 teams.

If Qatar wasn’t hosting this tournament they wouldn’t be here and it’s hard to imagine the Maroon qualifying for and playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be held in Canada, Mexico, and the USA in four years.

The World Cup Group A odds of 14/1 seem a little kind, and should Ecuador defeat Qatar in the opener, the hosts will have absolutely no chance of winning the Group nor advancing on to the Round of 16. Let’s face it, a win for Qatar would be enough for them

And just hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup has put Qatar on the map, enriched the country and provided a sense of national pride and a spot on the world map as the first Arab nation to ever host the world’s biggest sporting event.

World Cup Group A Predictions

Logic dictates that Netherlands and Senegal advance for a number of reasons, first and foremost being that I don’t have a lot of faith in Ecuador and Qatar to be able to ship many goals in this tournament. The Oranje and the Lions of Teranga both have quality Goalkeepers.

And should either fall behind in one of their first three Group Stage matches, then good luck. So Group A seems like it will be the winner of that opening Netherlands-Senegal match in Doha who will carry the torch for the group and head into the Round of 16.

With Sadio Mané (6 goals, 3 assists for Bayern Munich in Bundesliga), Senegal has a chance, but the Oranje appear to be the more organized side.
 

2022 FIFA World Cup Group A Predictions Winner:
Netherlandss
-220
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About the Author
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Rick Rockwell
Sports and Casino Writer
Rick has been a professional writer for over 14 years with an extensive resume spanning projects and clients from around the world. But, his passions have always been sports and sports betting. Whether it’s being a credentialed media member to major sporting events, climbing into a racecar or a pro wrestling ring, Rick’s sports and sports betting knowledge, passion and versatility is on display with each article he writes for TSG.
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