First-round action in Group A of the 2022 FIFA World Cup concludes with Senegal and the Netherlands facing off. The African champions have to prove on Monday that they can be competitive in the tournament even without Sadio Mane.
Bookmaker William Hill has the odds at 2.20 for both teams to score in the contest and at 1.61 for at least one side to finish without a goal.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: November 20th, 1:30 P.M. (EST)
Losing Mane, a player who has been involved in 12 of the team’s last 25 competitive goals, is obviously a huge blow, but the Senegal attack still has plenty of quality. Highly-rated Ismaïla Sarr is still in the squad and their forwards group also includes Boulaye Dia, who is having an outstanding season in Serie A for Salernitana with six goals and two assists.
The team has one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Edouard Mendy and getting past the Senegal midfield won’t be easy with Idrissa Gueye roaming around.
The Netherlands enter the tournament in great form having gone 15 games unbeaten since Louis van Gaal took the helm for the third time last year. The veteran manager has overseen 12 victories during the streak, and his overall record with the Netherlands is very impressive – 38 wins and just five defeats in 58 games.
The Oranje has its own injury worries before the tournament kicks off with Georginio Wijnaldum out and Memphis Depay not fully fit, but the Barca man could play some part in Monday’s opener. Memphis always seems to save his best for his national side and has registered four goals and two assists in eight appearances at major tournaments.
Even with Memphis on the bench, the starting lineup should still include plenty of attacking talent and Cody Gakpo could be the main danger man. The 23-year-old has crushed teams left, right and center for PSV this season and will now look to make a mark on the international stage as well.
Gakpo’s work this season includes 13 goals and 17 assists in 24 games. He’s been an impact player off the bench a lot of times for the Netherlands, but Monday should mark his fourth consecutive start and Gakpo has racked up two goals and an assist from the previous three games. The World Cup could turn out to be his coming-out party, and Senegal have to have a game plan specifically against Gakpo if they want to start the tournament with a positive result.
