USA vs Wales
With England favoured to claim the top spot in Group B, especially with a winnable match against Iran to start, this makes the World Cup 2022 fixture between USA and Wales crucial since this is presumably the battle for the second spot.
USA and Wales haven’t been here for a while. The Americans last competed in the 2014 edition of this competition while the Cymru are back for the first time after a long wait, so for sure none of them would want to exit early.
But both nations enter the tournament in worrying form, as USA laboured in a pair of friendlies last September against Saudi Arabia and Japan while Wales haven’t won since their 1-0 result over Ukraine that secured their World Cup qualification.
This is sure to be a compelling matchup between two hungry sides, so read on below as SBOTOP previews this contest.
Talking Points
USA finally with a clean bill of health
Gregg Berhalter couldn’t have asked for better news because his Team USA is fully fit coming into Qatar, as Gio Reyna and Timothy Weah are fully recovered from their long-term injuries.
Reyna and Weah are two of the team’s brightest stars, and they’re integral parts of Berhalter’s young core, which also includes the likes of Tyler Adams, Josh Sargent, Weston McKennie, Sergino Dest, Joe Scally, and Brenden Aaronson.
USA are going to be the second-youngest squad in the tournament with an average age of 25 years old, so their inexperience might be a factor. However, they come into Qatar with positive energy and they feel no pressure at all.
But at the end of the day, they can only go to as far as where Christian Pulisic takes them. The Chelsea winger is the youngest to captain his national team, so he’ll be their “veteran” despite being only 24 years of age.
The Hershey, Pennsylvania native has had an up-and-down campaign so far. Pulisic struggled previously to break into the team under Thomas Tuchel, but he’s slowly getting his rhythm back under Graham Potter.
Pulisic was linked with an exit from Chelsea not that long ago, but now he could extend his stay at Stamford Bridge, and his performance at the World Cup will help determine whether he’s deserving of a new lucrative deal.
Wales not heavily dependent on Bale anymore
Wales have waited a lifetime for this moment, but don’t expect them just content to be here. Rob Page’s men are used to playing in big tournaments, including Euro 2016 where they went to as far as the quarter-finals.
Hot shot Gareth Bale is still the go-to man for Wales since he’s the country’s all-time leading scorer with 40 goals. The 33-year-old winger is currently playing for Los Angeles FC in the MLS and he’s more than capable of producing World Cup 2022 highlights.
But the Cymru don’t have to be super-reliant on him anymore since they have Premier League-calibre talent, as they have the likes of Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Ben Davies, Neco Williams, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, Chris Mepham, Harry Wilson, Dan James, Kieffer Moore, and Brennan Johnson.
Opponents simply cannot afford to underestimate the quality of this team.
History
Monday marks the first meeting between USA and Wales at the World Cup. Prior to this, they’ve had two friendlies where USA won 2-0 back in 2003 along with a goalless draw exactly one year ago.
USA have qualified for their 11th World Cup, which is second behind Mexico (17) for most World Cup appearances by a CONCACAF country.
During their last appearance in 2014, the Americans advanced to the Round of 16 only to be eliminated by Belgium. They have been to the knockout stage in three of their last four participations (2002, 2010, and 2014).
Wales, on the other hand, are back for the first time in 64 years. During their previous appearance in 1958, Cymru went to as far as the quarter-finals.
Betting Tip
The World Cup 2022 odds are predicting a tight contest between USA and Wales. The Americans were given the slight edge at 2.61, while Wales are priced at 2.87 in the 1X2 market.
Given that this is a tough call because they’re evenly matched, we’re leaning towards a Draw @ 2.95 with goals to be scored by both nations.
USA may have had their difficulties finding the back of the net lately, but Wales haven’t secured a clean sheet since March, so Total Goal 2-3 @ 1.98 is another bet in the cards.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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