World Cup Group A Score Predictions & Betting Tips – Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal & Netherlands

Qatar 2022 all kicks off with Group A, in what will be one of the most unique tournaments of all-time. While we’re all rushing around trying to sort our Christmas shopping, they’ll be back-to-back football to keep us distracted.

It all gets underway on November 20th, with the hosts Qatar taking on Ecuador – not exactly the tasty fixture we’d perhaps all hoped for, but then it becomes relentless, with multiple games daily and a month of international bliss.

But how is Group A going to play out? There’s certainly plenty to play for and it’s going to make for some great World Cup betting. So, here’s our ultimate Qatar 2022 Group A preview…

 

The Latest Group A Betting Odds

With the games coming thick and fast, our tipsters make sure you get all the very best World Cup betting odds for Group A, picking the best value odds from the finest bookmakers around today. 

Below you’ll find all the upcoming Group A betting odds to back, all you need to do is click the bets you want to play, sign-up and away you go…

Qatar 3/1 🆚 Draw 5/2 🆚 Ecuador 6/5

Senegal 5/1 🆚 Draw 14/5 🆚 Netherlands 4/6

 

Group A Outright Betting

As you’d probably expect, the Netherlands are heavy favourites to get through the group after failing to qualify for the last tournament and they’ll be keen to make up for lost time under Louis van Gaal. From there it’s a bit of a straight shootout, with Senegal and Ecuador leading the way, but Qatar could be a surprise package given they’re playing on home soil.

The African nation are the reigning Cup of Nations winners, however, and will expect to get through the group and into the knockout stages.

Group A Winner Odds

🇳🇱 Netherlands – 2/5

🇸🇳 Senegal – 9/2

🇪🇨 Ecuador – 6/1

🇶🇦 Qatar – 14/1

To Qualify From Group A Odds

🇳🇱 Netherlands – 1/9

🇸🇳 Senegal – 5/6

🇪🇨 Ecuador – 11/8

🇶🇦 Qatar – 4/1

 

World Cup Group A Score Predictions

Fixture	Prediction	Bet
Qatar vs Ecuador	0-1	BET
Senegal vs Netherlands	1-2	BET
Qatar vs Senegal	0-2	BET
Netherlands vs Ecuador	1-0	BET
Netherlands vs Qatar	3-0	BET
Ecuador vs Senegal	1-1	BET

 

Who will Qualify from World Cup Group A?

1st Netherlands

2nd Senegal

3rd Ecuador

4th Qatar

 

Group A Fixtures

All the action gets underway in Group A on November 20t, the first day of the tournament. As the opening ceremony comes to a close, it’ll be time for hosts Qatar to walk out onto the pitch alongside Ecuador to get the World Cup started.

The Netherlands get underway the following day in a fixture that could well determine top spot in the group as they face Senegal, while the Dutch will want to have things wrapped up by the end of their second fixture where they take on Ecuador.

The full set of fixtures for Group A can be found below…

20 November, 2022:

4pm: Qatar v Ecuador

21 November, 2022:

4pm: Senegal v Netherlands

25 November, 2022: 

1pm: Qatar v Senegal

4pm: Netherlands v Ecuador

29 November, 2022: 

3pm: Ecuador v Senegal

3pm: Netherlands v Qatar

Following the outcome of the results, the winners of Group A will go on to face the runners up of Group B, while the runner up in Group A will take on the winners of Group B. The first of these fixtures will take place on 3 December, with the second the following day.

Group B sees England the favourites to finish that group as leaders, however both Wales and the United States will be keen to qualify, while Iran are unlikely to really test any of those nations and finish bottom of the pile.

 

World Cup Group A Preview: A Look at the Nations

• Qatar
• Netherlands
• Senegal
• Ecuador

Below you’ll find all the information you need on each nation lining up in Group A, and the vital statistics you need for getting you started in betting on fixtures, whether it be in the BTTS market or correct score.

 

Qatar

Qatar qualified as hosts for the tournament and will be making their first ever appearance in the World Cup. Despite the home crowd, there’s very little expected from the nation and it’s likely they’ll fail to qualify for the knockout stages.

The nation is ranked 48th in the world in the FIFA World Rankings, the lowest ranked team in Group A, and the third lowest ranked nation in the tournament, above only Saudi Arabia and Ghana.

Their last competitive game saw them finish third in the FIFA Arab Cup in 2021, where they beat Egypt on penalties, while throughout 2022 it’s been a series of friendlies in which, at the time of writing, they’d won five, lost three and drawn seven.

Qatar Statistics:

FIFA World Ranking: 48

World Cup Appearances: 0

Highest Finish: NA

Manager: Felix Sanchez

Captain: Hassan Al-Haydos

Star Player: Almoez Ali (Al-Duhail)

 

Netherlands

The Dutch will be keen to prove themselves at this World Cup having missed the previous and getting knocked out in the Round of 16 at Euro 2020. Louis van Gaal has taken the reins again with the national team and on paper they do have a strong squad with the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt at the back and the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Ryan Gravenberch and Memphis Depay dotted around the rest of the squad. 

For the Dutch, qualifying wasn’t the easiest of processes, and while they finished top of the group, they were just two points ahead of the Turkish, who failed to navigate the play-offs. That said, they lost once during that campaign (4-2 against Turkey), winning seven and drawing two of their 10 fixtures.

Qualification for the knockout stages is a must for the European nation, and given the run they could have a good route through to at least the Quarter Finals.

Netherlands Statistics

FIFA World Ranking: 8

World Cup Appearances: 11

Highest Finish: 2 (1974, 1978, 2010)

Manager: Louis van Gaal

Captain: Virgil van Dijk

Star Player: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona)

 

Senegal

Senegal will go into this tournament full of confidence having lifted the Africa Cup of Nations last year, and they make only their third appearance at a World Cup. Many will remember their debut back in 2002 where they stunned the World Champions, France in their opener and went on to reach the quarter finals.

The nation returned again in 2018 but failed to get beyond the Group Stage. They’ll be hopeful this time though. There are some talented players in that squad, with Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy building a solid foundation, while Cheikhou Kouyate, Kalidou Koulibaly, Idrissa Gueye and Sadio Mane provide the quality down the spine of the pitch.

Ranked 18th in the world, they’ll be confident of getting results against Qatar and Ecuador, and may even think they can cause an upset against the Dutch to take top spot in the group.

Senegal Statistics

FIFA World Ranking: 18

World Cup Appearances: 3

Highest Finish: Quarter Finals (2002)

Manager: Aliou Cisse

Captain: Kalidou Koulibaly

Star Player: Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich)

 

Ecuador

Ecuador just about snatched qualification to the World Cup in qualifying, dropping Peru into the play-off spots and leaving Colombia missing out on a trip to Qatar. It proved quite the feat given that the nation was the second lowest ranked side at the beginning of qualifying and they’ll be keen to cause a few upsets when they arrive in the Middle East at the end of November.

They picked up draws against both Brazil and Argentina in qualifying, and over the last few years have moved from 64th in the World Rankings to 44th, with players such as Moisés Caicedo and Gonzalo Plata proving real stars in the making. There’s a real youthful element to this squad and they’ll certainly go into the tournament with no fear.

Ecuador Statistics

FIFA World Ranking: 44

World Cup Appearances: 4

Highest Finish: Round of 16 (2006)

Manager: Gustavo Alfaro

Captain: Enner Valencia

Star Player: Enner Valencia (Fenerbahce)

 

World Cup Free Bets

Of course, if you’re looking to bet on Group A at this year’s World Cup, then why not do it with a free bet? There are tons of great offers from bookmakers both new and old, not only perfect for signing up and getting a welcome bonus, but also tons of other great options such as money-back specials and more.

Below you’ll find our very favourite free bets to enjoy on this year’s World Cup…

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