Betfinal Power Ranking TOP 20-11

 

The 22nd edition of the upcoming FIFA World Cup Final in Qatar seems to have two main favourites. However, the number of teams aspiring to the medal zone is much larger. Who can we consider the “dark horse” of the tournament? Let’s find out!

32 national football teams in 64 matches will compete for fame and glory. On November 20 at 5 pm (GMT+2 – Central European Time), Qatar will face Ecuador in the opening match of this year’s World Cup. The final game is scheduled for December 18. Here is our Betfinal Power Ranking of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, a few days before its start, to help you choose the best betting strategy for the forthcoming matches.

 

This is the SECOND PART of the series (places 20 to 11) of our 2022 Betfinal World Cup in Qatar Power Ranking.  You can find Part 1 (places 32 to 21) on your favourite Betfinal Blog, where we give you all the best football betting tips and odds to help you choose the best betting strategies possible.

 

Watch the space, stay with us and look for Part 3 – (Our Top 10).

 

So, let’s start!

Who’s going to win the World Cup Finals 2022? 

 

32. Saudi Arabia
31. Qatar
30. Costa Rica
29. Tunisia
28. Australia
27. Ghana
26. Japan
25. Iran
24. Cameroon
23. Canada
22. South Korea
21. Morocco
20. Ecuador
19. USA
18. Wales
17. Mexico
16. Poland
15. Senegal
14. Switzerland
13. Serbia
12. Uruguay
11. Croatia
10. Denmark6
9. Belgium
8. Portugal
7. Germany
6. England
5. Netherlands
4. Spain
3. France
2. Argentina
1. Brazil

 

No. 20, Ecuador – FIFA World Cup Group A

Ecuador (44th in the FIFA World Ranking) qualified for its first World Cup in 2002. Since then, the ‘Tricolours’ have made a further two appearances. Most recently when they failed to advance beyond the group stages in 2014.

They are the fourth South American representative at the Qatar championship. With all due respect to Ecuador, they are the weakest team out of the four. However, we must remember that they won promotion to the World Cup Finals in Qatar at the expense of such teams as Colombia, Chile, Peru and Paraguay, for instance.

 

Therefore, we’re not talking about a random contestant here.

 

Interestingly, the Ecuadorians have drawn seven out of their last ten matches and have been able to hold off Argentina and Brazil, among others. And that’s an impressive achievement.

 

The likes of Moises Caicedo, Pervis Estupinan (both Brighton), Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen), Enner Valencia (Fenerbahce) and Michael Estrada (Cruz Azul) will do their best to qualify for the knockout stage of the tournament. Especially since the Group with the Netherlands, Senegal and Qatar is relatively easy.

 

Players to watch:

With Ecuador’s lack of genuine finishers, the 32-year-old forward Enner Valencia will have a heavy burden on his shoulders. In a squad packed with youngsters, the team captain will have to show them the way in Qatar while also coming up with the goals his country expects of him.

 

The former West Ham and Everton forward is the nation’s all-time leading scorer, with 35 goals in 73 international appearances.

•   Premier League fans already know the potential of Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moisés Caicedo. The 20-year-old has been an undisputed first choice from the very first match of the World Cup qualification campaign against Argentina. He is an essential piece in the Ecuador machine. Every attacking movement and defensive one practically goes through him.

 

Given his excellent Premier League form, impressive work rate and fitness, vision to create chances for his teammates and drive to get in the box and score for himself, he can be one of the most powerful and influential young players at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.

•     Strong and full of running from kick-off to the final whistle, the 24-year-old flying left-back Pervis Estupinan is one of Ecuador’s main attacking threats. The statistics speak for themselves: 1,119 touches of the ball for ‘La Tri’ in the South American qualifiers (with Moises Caicedo second on the list with 901). 22 goal-scoring chances created in 17 matches (more than any of his team-mates), two goals scored, and six assists served.

 

He showcased his attacking abilities in Villarreal’s staggering run to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 2021/22. A campaign in which the Spanish side made history by beating both Juventus and Bayern Munich.

 

Unfortunately, his determination to get forward does leave him exposed at times, which might be disastrous at the World Cup level.

 

Ecuador’s Group A matches

 

Ecuador vs Qatar

Date: Sunday, November 20

Venue: Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor

 

Ecuador vs Netherlands

Date: Friday, November 25

Venue: Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan

 

Ecuador vs Senegal

Date: Tuesday, November 29

Venue: Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan

 

Ecuador – latest betting odds: 

 

1). Ecuador to win the FIFA World Cup: 150/1

2). Ecuador to win Group A: 11/2

3). Ecuador to reach the quarter-final: 6/1

4). Ecuador to reach the semi-final: 22/1

5). Ecuador to reach the final: 150/1

6). Enner Valencia to win World Cup Golden Boot: 200/1

PLEASE NOTE: The average odds comparison, source – oddschecker.com. The odds are valid on the day of the article’s publication and may be subject to change before the start of the tournament.

 

The last 5 international games:

 

30/03/22     Ecuador     1 – 1      Argentina

03/06/22     Ecuador  1 – 0     Nigeria

06/06/22     Mexico      0 – 0     Ecuador

23/09/22     Ecuador    0 – 0     Saudi Arabia

27/09/22     Japan        0 – 0     Ecuador

PLEASE NOTE: All the results represent matches that had occurred before the article’s publication date.

 

No. 19, USA – FIFA World Cup Group B

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be their 11th appearance. They failed to enter in 2018 but had qualified for the seven previous competitions. Americans (16th in the FIFA World Ranking) were promoted to Qatar 2022 after placing third in the CONCACAF Third Round of qualification. They won seven of their 14 matches, drawing four and losing three.

 

The USA ended up in a group with Wales, and this contest promises to be extremely even. These two teams should fight for second place, guaranteeing the promotion to the knockout stage. Especially since USA vs Wales match is the opening one for both of them. Gaining 3 points in this encounter will be crucial for the group’s standings because England seems to be out of reach here equally for both teams.

 

Of course, the team USA is not as well known to us as Gareth Bale and his company. Still, we are sure of one thing – they certainly have players with whom they can intimidate their opponents with. Christian Pulisic, Giovanni Reyna, Weston McKennie, Sergino Dest, Brenden Aaronson and Timothy Weah are among them.

 

However, it has to be said that Americans have been performing below expectations in recent months. Draws against Saudi Arabia, El Salvador or Jamaica, and defeats against Costa Rica, Japan, Panama and Canada, don’t look particularly appealing. Even though they are still favourites to advance as runners-up from Group B

 

Players to watch:

•   USA’s best hopes of success in Qatar rest on the shoulders of 23-year-old attacking midfielder Christian Pulisic. With 21 goals in 51 appearances for the national team, he is expected to be the highest-scoring player within the squad.

 

It is worth mentioning though that the Chelsea forward has only 19 goals in his 80 appearances for the club from Stamford Bridge. Is it something to worry about before the upcoming World Cup in Qatar? We don’t think so because regardless of the lack of goals in the Premier League – his energy, pressing skills and leadership abilities always enormously influence his team-mates. And this “Captain America”, as one of the most creative players in the game is going to prove that.

•   There was a massive battle over the 19-year-old midfielder Yunus Musah in 2020. Four nations were eager to give the youngster their national jersey. He was eligible to represent USA, England, Italy and Ghana; out of the four, he opted to accept a call-up from the American Federation.

 

Since then, he has represented the USA 19 times and established himself as a starting central midfielder alongside Tyler Adams. On top of that, Musah has also become an integral part of the starting eleven at his Spanish club Valencia. Why? Because he’s fast and agile, has an electrifying dribbling while keeping the ball close to his feet and constantly drives at the defence.

 

The youngster should definitely be on your radar for players to follow in Qatar’s World Cup.

•   Having the 21-year-old right-back Sergino Dest is like having two players in one! Americans should feel blessed. Not only because his attacking play is unreal and he’s good at terrorising full-backs but also because his nation of birth – the Netherlands, wanted him so badly. His choice, however, was the American jersey.

 

Sergino is an experienced footballer for his age. He has appeared in three FIFA youth competitions representing Ajax, Barcelona and AC Milan. We are sure that with all the minutes on the pitch he gets in his current club (AC Milan) Sergino will be a ‘Fierce Fire Bomb’ at the World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

 

USA’s Group B matches

 

USA vs Wales

Date: Monday, November 21

Venue: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Ar Rayyan

 

USA vs England

Date: Friday, November 25

Venue: Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor

 

USA vs Iran

Date: Tuesday, November 29

Venue: Al Thumama Stadium, Doha

 

USA – latest betting odds: 

 

1). USA to win the FIFA World Cup: 100/1

2). USA to win Group B: 6/1

3). USA to reach the quarter-final: 9/2

4). USA to reach the semi-final: 14/1

5). USA to reach the final: 66/1

6). Christian Pulisic to win World Cup Golden Boot: 100/1

PLEASE NOTE: The average odds comparison, source – oddschecker.com. The odds are valid on the day of the article’s publication and may be subject to change before the start of the tournament.

 

The last 5 international games:

 

05/06/22     USA                   0 – 0    Uruguay

11/06/22      USA                  5 – 0     Granada

15/06/22      Salvador           1 – 1      USA

23/09/22     Japan              2 – 0     USA

27/09/22     Saudi Arabia   0 – 0     USA

PLEASE NOTE: All the results represent matches that had occurred before the article’s publication date.

 

No. 18, Wales – FIFA World Cup Group B

Wales disappointed in the latest edition of the European Nations League tournament picking up just one point in six games. Let’s be honest; this is not the best prognosis for the Welsh Dragons before the forthcoming FIFA World Cup championships. However, saying that, it is still a pretty well-organized team, which must be taken seriously. The reasons for it are very straightforward. Firstly, they have several stars in the squad, with Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey leading the line-up. Secondly, Wales can present itself surprisingly well at big tournaments, as shown in recent years by the European Championships of 2016 (a run to the semi-finals and 2021 (a round of 16).

If manager Robert Page properly exploits the potential of his players, Wales could be uncomfortable for many teams.

 

The Group B schedule means Wales will likely need to get 3 points from their opening game against the USA to give themselves a chance of qualification. The victory would see them as clear favourites to join England (who probably are out of reach for any of the teams in the group) in the knockout phase.

 

Wales has qualified for their first World Cup since 1958 !!!,  with their play-off win over Ukraine in June. It’s been 64 years since then, and it’s high time to bring some happiness and glory to the country.

 

Players to watch:

•   He is one of the hottest attacking prospects and the future of Welsh football. Blessed with explosive pace, excellent movement, technique and ball-carrying ability, the 21-year-old forward Brennan Johnson brings many offensive tactical options to the team.

 

He may start as a substitute in Qatar, but don’t assume it will diminish his effectiveness. As the Welsh manager Robert Page said:

 

“There is no defender in world football that would want to see Brennan Johnson coming on with 15 minutes to go. He’s a wonderful talent.” 

 

Yes, we do agree !!! The Nottingham Forest star has all the ingredients to shine in Qatar this winter.

•   Neco Williams, the 21-year-old full-back has already established himself as a fundamental piece in the Welsh squad. Last summer, he swapped Liverpool for Nottingham Forest to earn more minutes on the pitch and regular play to get fit and ready for the forthcoming World Cup in Qatar. As Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp said:

 

“It’s not easy to let him leave, but he deserves to play regularly, and he’s earned the right to be ready for his international team. He’s achieved so much already, but there is even more to come.”

 

Whether he plays as a full-back or a wing-back, on the right or left, Neco Williams brings genuine attacking threats in all areas. All those attributes, and the burning desire to make an impression on the global stage, ensure he will be well worth watching when the ‘Red Dragons’ make their World Cup return.

•   If Wales is going to go further than the three group matches at the FIFA World Cup, the 33-year-old forward Gareth Bale will have to bring his scoring boots with dynamite attached.

 

Five-time UEFA Champions League winner and three-time FIFA Club World Cup champion – Gareth is Wales’s all-time leading goalscorer, with 40 international goals in his international career dating back to 2006. Three of those goals came from Euro 2016, when he finished second in the scoring charts at his first major tournament. He put another six in the recent World Cup qualifiers as he powered the Dragons to their first finals since 1958.

 

Bale never hides the extra energy he finds when playing for Wales, and this year’s World Cup should be the perfect stage for him to showcase all his talents.

 

Wales’s Group B matches

 

Wales vs USA

Date: Monday, November 21

Venue: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Ar Rayyan

 

Wales vs Iran

Date: Friday, November 25

Venue: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Ar Rayyan

 

Wales vs England

Date: Tuesday, November 29

Venue: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Ar Rayyan

 

Wales – latest betting odds: 

 

1). Wales to win the FIFA World Cup: 100/1

2). Wales to win Group B: 11/2

3). Wales to reach the quarter-final: 4/1

4). Wales to reach the semi-final: 14/1

5). Wales to reach the final: 50/1

6). Gareth Bale to win World Cup Golden Boot: 50/1

PLEASE NOTE: The average odds comparison, source – oddschecker.com. The odds are valid on the day of the article’s publication and may be subject to change before the start of the tournament.

 

The last 5 international games:

 

08/06/22     Wales                 1 – 2     Netherlands

11/06/22     Wales                   1 – 1     Belgium

14/06/22     Netherlands   3 – 2    Wales

22/09/22    Belgium            2 – 1     Wales

25/09/22    Wales                   0 – 1     Poland

PLEASE NOTE: All the results represent matches that had occurred before the article’s publication date.

 

No. 17, Mexico – Group C

Bookmakers rate the chances of Mexico (13th in the FIFA World Ranking) and Poland, two group rivals, practically at 50/50. We also believe that both teams have similar potential, which is why we rank them right next to each other, leaning minimally towards the ‘Polish Eagles’.

 

‘Los Aztecas’ are far from optimal form. They have won only twice in the last seven games (against Suriname and Peru).

 

Jesus Corona (a key national team player) will not participate in the FIFA World Cup due to his earlier injury, and the heavily criticized manager Gerard Martino has already announced that he will not bring Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez to Qatar either. However, we must remember that the Mexicans, unlike the Poles, can play exceptionally well in tournaments like the World Cup.

 

Mexico will be making its eighth consecutive FIFA World Cup finals appearance in Qatar. In seven previous tournaments, ‘Los Aztecas’ have successfully escaped the group phase but then would be immediately sent home. In fact, the only two occasions Mexico reached the final eight came in 1970 and 1989 when they hosted the championship. Their main objective at the World Cup in Qatar will be to end this 33-year wait for a place in the quarter-finals. We think they will need more time to achieve that goal.

 

Making its first appearance in 1930, Mexico has been involved in 17 World Cups overall, including the 2022 edition in Qatar.

 

Players to watch:

•   Alongside Raul Jimenez, he is one of the biggest attacking threats in the Mexican squad. The 27-year-old forward Hirving Lozano is at the peak of his powers and has the skills and pace to unlock even the tightest defence. His ability to get past defenders, tied up with his intuition and courage, makes him the first choice in Mexico’s attacking line-up. Capable of playing on either flank, he is preparing for his second World Cup. Mexican fans will be hoping to see him at his best in Qatar, where his job will be to help Mexico’s goal-shy attack to fire their cannons.

•   The 31-year-old forward Raul Jimenez has been an excellent asset for Mexico at the international level. He has managed 30 goals across his 97 international appearances so far.

 

The Wolves striker finished as Mexico’s leading scorer in their World Cup Qualification campaign. Practically unbeatable in the air, Jimenez fights for every ball and has the skills to link up effectively with his team-mates. Mexico will need him to be at his best if they are to atone for their recent shyness in front of the goal.

•   He has been one of the most exciting breakthroughs in Mexican football in recent years. Having joined Ajax Amsterdam, the versatile 24-year-old midfielder Edson Alvarez has become a supremely gifted holding midfielder and a joy to watch. He can bring the ball from deep and link up with his forwards to create numerous chances in the penalty box. He’s expected to play a similar role for his national team as they seek to go deep in Qatar and will be their main midfield barrier at the FIFA World Cup.

 

Mexico’s Group C matches

 

Mexico vs Poland

Date: Tuesday, November 22

Venue: 974 Stadium, Doha

 

Mexico vs Argentina

Date: Saturday, November 26

Venue: Lusail Stadium, Al Daayen

 

Mexico vs Saudi Arabia

Date: Wednesday, November 30

Venue: Lusail Stadium, Al Daayen

 

Mexico – latest betting odds: 

 

1). Mexico to win the FIFA World Cup: 80/1

2). Mexico to win Group C: 4/1

3). Mexico to reach the quarter-final: 4/1

4). Mexico to reach the semi-final: 12/1

5). Mexico to reach the final: 50/1

6). Hirving Lozano to win World Cup Golden Boot: 150/1

PLEASE NOTE: The average odds comparison, source – oddschecker.com. The odds are valid on the day of the article’s publication and may be subject to change before the start of the tournament.

 

The last 5 international games:

 

12/06/22     Mexico    3 – 0     Suriname

15/06/22     Jamaica    1 – 1       Mexico

01/09/22     Mexico      0 – 1      Paraguay

25/09/22     Mexico    1 – 0     Peru

28/09/22     Mexico      2 – 3     Colombia

PLEASE NOTE: All the results represent matches that had occurred before the article’s publication date.

 

No. 16, Poland – FIFA World Cup Group C

Poland (26th in the FIFA World Ranking) has been given an extremely tough group, and their first game will be the most important. Book makers expect Poland to beat Saudi Arabia and lose to Argentina. Therefore, the opening match against Mexico could decide whether the ‘White Eagles’ reach the knock-out stages or go home after just three games.

Suppose you look for the advantage of the Polish national team over the Mexicans somewhere. In that case, it is in the person of Robert Lewandowski. Mexicans don’t have a single player at such a high level and the ability to decide games.

 

Twenty points in ten games was a decent return for the Polish team in their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. They finished second in Group I behind a strong English side, putting them into the UEFA play-offs where they won 2:0 against Sweden.

 

With experienced players like Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) or Wojtek Szczesny (Juventus) in the squad, the Polish coach will be looking to strike the ideal balance between both offence and defence and between old hands and up-and-coming young talents. If he can achieve that, Poland will be well placed to make it out of the group to the knock-out stages.

 

FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be Poland’s ninth appearance and the third consecutive time they have qualified for the tournament. They have never won the World Cup but have twice finished third, in 1974 and 1982.

 

Players to watch:

•   The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is likely to be his last one. The 34-year-old striker Robert Lewandowski is Poland’s most-capped player and record scorer ever. With 76 goals in 134 appearances for the national team and over 600 in his club’s career Lawandowski leads the way.

 

He scored an incredible 312 goals in 384 Bundesliga matches for Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund before moving to FC Barcelona ahead of this season.

 

Two-time ‘The Best FIFA Player’, a dozen times footballer of the year in Poland and Germany. Bundesliga top-scorer on seven occasions, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Champions League winner – the list goes on and on …

 

And yet there is one thing missing from his resume – in the 2018 World Cup, which was his only World Cup to date, he failed to find the back of the net.

 

The 34-year-old will therefore have all the motivation he needs to get his name on the World Cup goal-scoring list and push Poland through to the knock-out stage once again.

•   Outside Lewandowski, the 28-year-old attacking midfielder Piotr Zielinski is the Polish man in great shape right now. He’s been directly involved in seven goals in nine matches across all competitions for Serie A leaders Napoli this season. The 2020 Italian Cup winners are now regulars in the Champions League or Europa League, and Zielinski barely misses a match on the domestic and European stages.

 

If Lewandowski struggles, Poland will look for Zielinski to help and create for the Barcelona striker. If Zielinski has a bad day, there is every chance Poland will too.

•   The experienced 32-year-old goal-keeper Wojciech Szczesny has spent most of his career at Arsenal and Juventus. He has over 200 Serie A appearances to his name, having played 150 times in the Premier League before that and 70 UEFA Champions League ties.

 

Szczesny is very much his country’s number-one goalie but has had to deal with some injuries over recent months, an ankle problem being the latest in that line. Polish fans will be hoping that Szczesny is back to 100 per cent fitness in time for the World Cup in Qatar.

 

Poland’s Group C matches

 

Poland vs Mexico

Date: Tuesday, November 22

Venue: 974 Stadium, Doha

 

Poland vs Saudi Arabia

Date: Saturday, November 26

Venue: Education City Stadium, Doha

 

Poland vs Argentina

Date: Wednesday, November 30

Venue: 974 Stadium, Doha

 

Poland – latest betting odds: 

 

1). Poland to win the FIFA World Cup: 80/1

2). Poland to win Group C: 5/1

3). Poland to reach the quarter-final: 5/1

4). Poland to reach the semi-final: 16/1

5). Poland to reach the final: 50/1

6). Robert Lewandowski to win World Cup Golden Boot: 40/1

PLEASE NOTE: The average odds comparison, source – oddschecker.com. The odds are valid on the day of the article’s publication and may be subject to change before the start of the tournament.

 

The last 5 international games:

 

08/06/22     Belgium        6 – 1     Poland

11/06/22       Netherlands   2 – 2     Poland

14/06/22      Poland             0 – 1     Belgium

22/09/22      Poland             0 – 2    Netherlands

25/09/22      Wales               0 – 1     Poland

PLEASE NOTE: All the results represent matches that had occurred before the article’s publication date.

 

No. 15, Senegal – FIFA World Cup Group A

It’s been 20 years since Senegal (18th in the FIFA World Ranking) famously reached the quarter-finals in Korea/Japan tournament in 2002. Their progression was well deserved back then. The Lions of Teranga managed to beat defending champions France in the group stage and played out that memorable 3-3 game against Uruguay before beating Sweden in the last 16.

 

After that success, the nation endured a three-tournament break between 2006 and 2014 before returning in 2018. Their re-emergence wasn’t as quite dazzling as their 2002 predecessors. Despite beating Poland and drawing with Japan, Senegal failed to progress from their group. They will be hoping for better fortune this time and have every right to do so because their route to the knock-out stages doesn’t seem to be that challenging.

 

The Lions can be pleased with the World Cup draw, which saw them placed in a group with Qatar (currently ranked 48th in FIFA’s world rankings), Ecuador (ranked 44th) and the Netherlands. Not particularly a ‘Group of Death’, don’t you reckon? – and Senegal should make a confident step towards the last 16 here.

 

Unpredictable, but with football quality. The team of Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly seems to be the strongest representative of Africa among the championship participants. However, it is often the case with teams from that region; the unpredictability of the Senegalese could prove to be both an asset and a problem. Their first group-stage match against the Netherlands will tell us a lot about the shape of ‘Les Lions’.

 

Players to watch:

•   Sadio Mane, the 30-year-old forward, has been considered the most technically gifted player in the Senegal squad. With 33 goals, he is the nation’s record scorer, and his unbelievable top speed of 34.84 km per hour makes him one of the fastest forwards on the planet.

 

Recently named African Footballer of the Year for the second time, the Bayern Munich attacker was part of the Liverpool team that reached the final of the UEFA Champions League in May.

 

Creative on and off the ball, it doesn’t matter whether he has his back to the goal or is facing it; Mane poses a massive threat to any goal-keeper.

•   Chelsea’s goal-keeper 30-year-old Edouard Mendy enjoyed great success in 2021 when he lifted the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup trophies. In January, his excellent performances were rewarded with The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award.

 

Equipped with unparalleled reach and a reassuring presence, Mendy has developed into one of Senegal’s key components in just a few years. The Chelsea gloveman has had a challenging start to the 2022/23 season, but that should only work to fuel his motivation.

•   The beating heart of the Lions of Teranga defensive lines, the right-footed 31-year-old centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly is well known for his confidence on the pitch, well-timed interceptions and adequate clearances.

 

Capable of controlling the pace to the game, he can relaunch play from the back, supporting counter-attacks and offering an extra option when his team-mates face solid opposite defence. His ability to read the game makes him the perfect match for Senegal’s style of play. Kouliabaly is a big-game performer who tends to thrive under pressure.

 

Senegal’s Group A matches

 

Senegal vs Netherlands

Date: Monday, November 21

Venue: Al Thumama Stadium, Doha

 

Senegal vs Qatar

Date: Friday, November 25

Venue: Al Thumama Stadium, Doha

 

Senegal vs Ecuador

Date: Tuesday, November 29

Venue: Khalifa International Stadium, Ar-Rayyan

 

Senegal – latest betting odds: 

 

1). Senegal to win the FIFA World Cup: 80/1

2). Senegal to win Group A: 3/1

3). Senegal to reach the quarter-final: 3/1

4). Senegal to reach the semi-final: 10/1

5). Senegal to reach the final: 35/1

6). Sadio Mane to win World Cup Golden Boot: 50/1

PLEASE NOTE: The average odds comparison, source – oddschecker.com. The odds are valid on the day of the article’s publication and may be subject to change before the start of the tournament.

 

The last 5 international games:

 

24/07/22     Liberia      0 – 3     Senegal

30/07/22     Senegal     1 – 2     Liberia

27/08/22     Senegal   1 – 0     Guinea

24/09/22     Senegal   2 – 0    Bolivia

27/09/22     Senegal     1 – 1      Iran

PLEASE NOTE: All the results represent matches that had occurred before the article’s publication date.

 

No.14, Switzerland – FIFA World Cup Group G 

Switzerland (15th in the FIFA World Ranking) is a consistently dangerous, well-organised and effective team, and their captain Granite Xhaka has been at his peak.

 

The Helvetians have fresh wins against Spain and Portugal to their credit, which is the best proof, not so much of their potential as their current, real strength.

 

Switzerland earned their ticket to the FIFA World Cup on the strength of an eight-match unbeaten run through UEFA qualifying Group C. The group consisted of Italy, Lithuania, Northern Ireland and Bulgaria. With 15 goals scored and just two conceded, five wins and three draws, their qualifying campaign for Qatar 2022 could hardly have gone any better. They topped the group with 18 points!

 

The bubble burst slightly in 2022 when the Helvetians managed just one win over Portugal in two friendlies and four UEFA Nations League matches. They suffered four losses and a draw during that six-game run, shipping ten goals. Their defence suddenly seemed fragile, and they must return to the form shown in qualifying pretty quickly. Should they manage to do that, then the sky is the limit for Switzerland in Qatar.

 

The Swiss will definitely fight an extremely spectacular duel with Serbia to grab the second spot in the group and advance to the last 16. Brazil is out of reach for both teams.

 

Making its first appearance in 1934, Switzerland has been involved in 12 World Cups, including the 2022 edition in Qatar. They have reached the quarter-finals on two previous occasions. The most recent came in 1954 when they hosted the World Cup finals.

 

Players to watch:

•   With 106 international appearances to his name and 26 goals, the 30-year-old attacking midfielder and vice-captain Xherdan Shaqiri is a key figure in the Swiss line-up. His domestic trophy cabinet is well-stocked with three German Bundesliga titles and one of the English Premier League, plus two UEFA Champions League triumphs and another two at the FIFA Club World Cup.

 

Shaqiri performs as the essential link between midfield and attack, often playing in an advanced role just behind the forward line. He featured in six World Cup qualifying matches, scoring one goal and setting up five more, underlining his importance to Switzerland’s offensive capabilities.

 

During his career, he has represented clubs such as FC Basel, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Stoke City, Liverpool and Lyon. In February 2022, he moved to the MLS, where he now plays for Chicago Fire.

 

His form will be the key to how far Switzerland goes in Qatar.

•   The 29-year-old defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka who plays for Arsenal London, has appeared in every one of the side’s 13 Premier League games in the 22/23 campaign, starting in all 13. The midfielder has netted three Premier League goals and ranks 10th for Premier League assists this season, having created three goals for his team-mates.

 

With 104 caps and 12 goals for the national team, over 100 Bundesliga appearances and 200 more in the Premier League to his name, Xhaka is one of the most experienced members of Murat Yakin’s squad.

 

Suppose the Helvetians are to go deep into this forthcoming tournament. In that case, the captain and nerve centre of the Swiss team, will need to play a foundational role in more ways than one.

•   He only missed one match during the Qatar World Cup qualifying campaign, featuring in the starting line-up for all the others. Born in Zurich but with Spanish and Chilean heritage, the 30-year-old left-back Ricardo Rodriguez, has definitely enjoyed his career to date.

 

As a youth international, he won the FIFA U-17 World Cup, while on the domestic front, he made 149 Bundesliga appearances for Wolfsburg, taking home a DFB-Pokal winner’s medal. Then, after a short stay at PSV Eindhoven, he has now played in over 100 Serie A games – firstly for AC Milan and now with Torino.

 

Rodriguez’s legendary left foot is highly beneficial at set pieces. He is also a threat down the flanks, feeding the forwards with steady, accurate crosses.

 

Switzerland’s Group G matches

 

Switzerland vs Cameroon

Date: Thursday, November 24

Venue: Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah

 

Switzerland vs Brazil

Date: Monday, November 28

Venue: 974 Stadium, Doha

 

Switzerland vs Serbia

Date: Friday, December 02

Venue: 974 Stadium, Doha

 

Switzerland – latest betting odds: 

 

1). Switzerland to win the FIFA World Cup: 66/1

2). Switzerland to win Group G: 9/2

3). Switzerland to reach the quarter-final: 3/1

4). Switzerland to reach the semi-final: 9/1

5). Switzerland to reach the final: 28/1

6). Xherdan Shaqiri to win World Cup Golden Boot: 150/1

PLEASE NOTE: The average odds comparison, source – oddschecker.com. The odds are valid on the day of the article’s publication and may be subject to change before the start of the tournament.

 

The last 5 international games:

 

05/06/22     Portugal              4 – 0     Switzerland

09/06/22     Switzerland        0 – 1      Spain

12/06/22      Switzerland    1 – 0      Portugal

24/09/22      Spain                   1 – 2      Switzerland

27/09/22      Switzerland    2 – 1      Czech Rep.

PLEASE NOTE: All the results represent matches that had occurred before the article’s publication date.

 

No.13, Serbia – FIFA World Cup Group G 

We rate the strength of the Serbs (21st in the FIFA World Ranking) slightly higher than the Swiss, but we estimate the chances of both teams being more or less equal. The team from the Balkans overcomes the Helvetians with the individual quality of their players. The offensive force with Vlahovic and Tadic, as well as Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic behind them, looks really threatening. The Serbian national team finally seems to be cohesive and united.

 

Serbia is one of the candidates to be the underdog of the entire tournament. And the rivalry with Switzerland has another interesting aspect. The two teams faced each other in a group stage in 2018. Back then, Switzerland triumphed in a head-to-head duel 2:1, and the Helvetians earned a ticket to the knock-out stage.

The Serbs certainly have a desire for revenge now.

 

Since becoming an independent state in 2006, Serbia has participated in two FIFA World Cups: 2010 and 2018. It was a sweet-and-sour exit from South Africa 12 years ago. Radomir Antic’s men beat European heavies Germany 1-0 in the groups but lost to Australia and Ghana. Eight years later, Serbs could not exorcise those demons. They crashed out of the groups again with just a single win against Costa Rica 1:0. Will the third time be the charm?

 

Players to watch:

•   A ruthless scoring machine, the 22-year-old striker Dusan Vlahovic is already one of Serie A’s leading stars. He has been riding the crest of a goal-scoring wave since his 2020/21 season breakthrough in the Italian league. Only Ciro Immobile has scored more goals (52) than Vlahovic (49) since that campaign started.

 

Dusan is a centre-forward with a commanding physical presence who prefers taking the direct route to the goal rather than patient build-up play. For fans of spectacular and physical football, he will undoubtedly be the one to watch!

•   Since his move to Ajax Amsterdam in 2018, the 33-year-old attacking midfielder Dusan Tadic has reinvented himself as a genuinely elite playmaker. He has scored 66 goals and assisted 68 times – more than any other player in the Dutch Eredivisie. 16 goals and 22 assists for Ajax last season and 22 goals, and 25 assists in the previous campaign – the captain of the Serbian national team has dynamite in his boots and clarity of thought in his head. His creativity will be instrumental in Serbia’s trophy hopes in Qatar World Cup 2022.

•   His father once said: “He would be a criminal or a kickboxer if he was not playing football.” (The Telegraph). Over the years, the 27-year-old striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has worked hard on his temperament.

 

He was unstoppable for Fulham last season in the Championship, scoring 43 goals in 44 matches, and is also in record-breaking form with the national team. His strike against Portugal provided Serbia with direct qualification to Qatar 2022 World Cup Finals and was his 44th for the ‘Eagles’. Since then, he has increased his score to 46, keeping him well ahead in Serbia’s all-time scorer’s chart.

 

Aleksandar Mitrovic can strike literally from any position, and we are looking forward to watching him play.

 

Serbia’s Group G matches

 

Serbia vs Brazil

Date: Thursday, November 24

Venue: Lusail Stadium, Al Daayen

 

Serbia vs Cameroon

Date: Monday, November 28

Venue: Al Janoub, Al Wakrah

 

Serbia vs Switzerland

Date: Friday, December 02

Venue: 974 Stadium, Doha

 

Serbia – latest betting odds: 

 

1). Serbia to win the FIFA World Cup: 70/1

2). Serbia to win Group G: 13/2

3). Serbia to reach the quarter-final: 9/2

4). Serbia to reach the semi-final: 14/1

5). Serbia to reach the final: 40/1

6). Dusan Vlahovic to win World Cup Golden Boot: 50/1

PLEASE NOTE: The average odds comparison, source – oddschecker.com. The odds are valid on the day of the article’s publication and may be subject to change before the start of the tournament.

 

The last 5 international games:

 

05/06/22     Serbia    4 – 1    Slovenia

09/06/22     Sweden   0 – 1     Serbia

12/06/22     Slovenia  2 – 2     Serbia

24/09/22     Serbia    4 – 1    Sweden

27/09/22     Norway   0 – 2    Serbia

PLEASE NOTE: All the results represent matches that had occurred before the article’s publication date.

 

No.12, Uruguay – FIFA World Cup Group H 

Uruguay has shown many times during previous editions of the tournament that they definitely have to be taken seriously. The ‘Charruas’ have reached at least the quarter-finals in two of their last three FIFA World Cup appearances. They are one of the typical “World Cup” teams.

 

In the World Cup qualifiers, Luis Suarez and co. were only beaten by Brazil and Argentina, securing their place in their fourth consecutive tournament. The former Barcelona striker scored eight times and was a star performer during the campaign. Suarez will be supported in Qatar by Fede Valverde, who is currently in his best form ever. The manager also has Edinson Cavani, Darwin Nunez, Lucas Torreira, Rodrigo Bentancur and the immortal Diego Godin at his disposal. Ronald Araujo is fighting against time due to his earlier injury.

 

There is absolutely no reason why Uruguay cannot go far this year. Showing world-class quality in defence, midfield and attack, the ‘Charruas’ are solid and capable of mixing things up. They will face Portugal, Ghana and South Korea in Group H and will undoubtedly be battling it with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal for the top group spot. It doesn’t mean they can take anything for granted against South Korea or Ghana, though.

With expectations as high as ever, Uruguay will go to Qatar in search of their third World Cup Trophy.

 

Players to watch:

•   With uncompromising youth on his side, the 23-year-old Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez will lead the attacking line ahead of the ageing Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.

 

Nunez owns a rare blend of abilities which many strikers can only dream of. His physical strength and devastating speed make him very useful inside and outside the penalty box. He can create scoring chances out of nothing and has a gift for detecting and attacking spaces that can shred any defensive lines to pieces.

•   Even though he is in his mid 30ies, the 35-year-old Luis Suarez, former Liverpool and Barcelona striker, has never lost that killer instinct and eye for a goal. He is regarded as one of South America’s greatest players and is about to prove that again.

 

It will be his fourth appearance at the World Cup finals, where he has scored seven times already. Another two strikes in Qatar will make him the nation’s all-time leading goal scorer of the tournament.

 

It will be a pleasure to watch ‘El Pistolero’ in action as his long and exciting World Cup career ends with yet another chapter left to run.

•   Having already won the Spanish La Liga and the Champions League this year, the 24-year-old midfielder Federico Valverde would love to end the year with a spectacular World Cup to match.

 

Although he missed the tournament four years ago, this is highly unlikely to be the case this time, as he established himself as an excellent asset for the Real Madrid midfield. Valverde has become as irreplaceable for the Spanish giants as he is for his country. He offers vision, incredible scoring abilities and a gift for reading the game. This is why he deserves a place among the best players of the globe and will play a vital role in his country’s hopes in Qatar.

 

Uruguay’s Group H matches

 

Uruguay vs South Korea

Date: Thursday, November 24

Venue: Education City Stadium, Doha

 

Uruguay vs Portugal

Date: Monday, November 28

Venue: Lusail Stadium, Al Daayen

 

Uruguay vs Ghana

Date: Friday, December 02

Venue: Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah

 

Uruguay – latest betting odds: 

 

1). Uruguay to win the FIFA World Cup: 40/1

2). Uruguay to win Group H: 2/1

3). Uruguay to reach the quarter-final: 9/4

4). Uruguay to reach the semi-final: 13/2

5). Uruguay to reach the final: 20/1

6). Darwin Nunez  to win World Cup Golden Boot: 40/1

PLEASE NOTE: The average odds comparison, source – oddschecker.com. The odds are valid on the day of the article’s publication and may be subject to change before the start of the tournament.

 

The last 5 international games:

 

03/06/22     Mexico        0 – 3      Uruguay

05/06/22     USA             0 – 0      Uruguay

11/06/22      Uruguay   5 – 0      Panama

23/09/22     Iran            1 – 0      Uruguay

27/09/22 Canada            0 – 2      Uruguay

PLEASE NOTE: All the results represent matches that had occurred before the article’s publication date.

 

No.11, Croatia – FIFA World Cup Group F 

The Croatians (14th in the FIFA World Ranking) quite unexpectedly won their group in the Nations League recently (ahead of Denmark and France). They should be strong as ever at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, although a difficult schedule may thwart their plans.

 

We don’t expect them to drop out of their group. After all, they will play against Belgium, Canada and Morocco and should advance to the knock-out stages without much problem. But, with Belgium being the favourites to win Group F, we expect Croatia to qualify for the last 16 from the second spot in the group.

And this is where the difficulties start. If this scenario happens, they most likely face Germany or Spain in the 1/8 finals and Brazil in the quarters. That may prove to be too much of a challenge for Croatia. Therefore, repeating the success of 2018, when Croatia reached the semi-final, could be extremely difficult, but who knows? Anything is possible in the football world.

 

Since becoming an independent country in 1991, Croatia has competed at the World Cup five times, qualifying for six of the last seven tournaments.

 

Players to watch:

•   The 29-year-old Inter Milan central midfielder Marcelo Brozovic will undoubtedly be one of the pillars of Croatia’s starting 11. At this prime stage of his career, the versatile player can fully exploit his armoury of skills and derive from experience. His tactical intelligence provides balance to both defence and attack and will be extremely needed if Croatia plans to go further than the last 16.

•   He always gives his best when wearing the chequered jersey of Croatia. The 33-year-old winger and Tottenham player Ivan Perisic is an essential ingredient of the attacking philosophy that drives the Croatian team. At the last FIFA World Cup, Perisic played a crucial role in several matches for the Vatreni. He struck against Iceland in the final group match, had an equaliser and an assist in the semi-final win over England and scored an equaliser against France in the Final.

 

With three strikes for the national team during the qualification campaign for Qatar, Perisic enters the tournament with big hopes and is definitely one of the players to watch.

•   Age doesn’t seem to be catching up with him. Luka Modric, a 37-year-old central midfielder who plays for Real Madrid and captains the national team, is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He is the complete package of a multi-talented player with excellent ball control, phenomenal passes and scoring abilities from another planet. His spectacular awareness on the pitch lets him find enough space to create something out of nothing. We are all eager to watch how his leadership and talent stimulate Croatia to go all the way in Qatar.

 

Croatia’s Group F matches

 

Croatia vs Morocco

Date: Wednesday, November 23

Venue: Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor

 

Croatia vs Canada

Date: Sunday, November 27

Venue: Khalifa International Stadium, Ar Raayan

 

Croatia vs Belgium

Date: Thursday, December 01

Venue: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Ar Raayan

 

Croatia – latest betting odds: 

 

1). Croatia to win the FIFA World Cup: 50/1

2). Croatia to win Group F: 5/2

3). Croatia to reach the quarter-final: 3/1

4). Croatia to reach the semi-final: 7/1

5). Croatia to reach the final: 20/1

6). Andrej Kramaric  to win World Cup Golden Boot: 100/1

PLEASE NOTE: The average odds comparison, source – oddschecker.com. The odds are valid on the day of the article’s publication and may be subject to change before the start of the tournament.

 

The last 5 international games:

 

06/06/22     Croatia        1 – 1      France

10/06/22      Denmark    0 – 1     Croatia

13/06/22      France         0 – 1     Croatia

22/09/22      Croatia     2 – 1     Denmark

25/09/22      Austria        1 – 3     Croatia

PLEASE NOTE: All the results represent matches that had occurred before the article’s publication date.

 

Football online betting has never been easier and more exciting with Betfinal. We try to offer our players the best FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar betting odds. We’re here to help you to choose your best betting World Cup strategies possible.

 

So, get ready for the upcoming games and look for the best World Cup betting tips at the Betfinal blog. Stay tuned for the FIFA World Cup Finals betting tips when the time rolls around.

 

Have fun and bet wisely with the best World Cup betting odds at your favourite betting site, betfinal.com.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

1). When and where is the 2022 World Cup?

 

Qatar will host the 2022 Fifa World Cup this winter, the first to be organised by an Arab country and the second held entirely in Asia. It is the 22nd edition of the tournament, which began back in 1930.

 

The event starts on Sunday, November 20, with a match between Qatar and Ecuador.

 

The Final (and 64th match) will kick-off in Lusail on Qatar National Day,  Sunday, December 18, 2022.

 

• November 20: Opening match of 2022 World Cup (Qatar v Ecuador)
• December 2: Group phase concludes
• December 3-6: Round of 16
• December 9-10: Quarterfinals
• December 13-14: Semifinals
• December 17: Third Place Match
• December 18: Final

 

2). Who is in the World Cup 2022 Finals?

 

A total of 32 teams compete in the FIFA World Cup. 31 of them must qualify for the tournament, with Qatar qualifying automatically as a host. There are 13 nations from Europe, 4 from South America, 4 from Asia, 5 from Africa, 4 from North America, and Australia, which is a member of the Asian confederation.

 

• Host: Qatar

• Europe: Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Wales.
• The rest of the world: Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Ecuador, USA, Canada, Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Japan, Costa Rica and Australia.

3). Why is the World Cup in November?

This year’s World Cup has been scheduled for November and December, unlike in the usual June and July window. This has been done to combat the fierce Qatari summer heat, which is often more than 40°C during the period. The average temperature in November is 24°C and 21°C in December.

 

4). Are tickets for the World Cup 2022 available?

Tickets are available through the official FIFA website, with more than 800,000 tournament tickets sold during the first and second phases, which have already sold out.

The online Last Minute Sales on a “first come, first served”  basis is currently open and will run until the end of the FIFA World Cup on 18 December.

5). How much does a final World Cup ticket cost?

Four categories of tickets are made available to supporters wanting to attend the World Cup in Qatar.

• Category 1 – is the highest priced, located in prime areas within the stadium.
• Category 2 and Category 3 – are seating areas within the stadium offering a less-premium view of the action.
• Category 4 – is a seating area within the stadium reserved exclusively for residents of Qatar.

All tickets are sold in Qatari riyal to both residents of Qatar and international fans, with prices ranging from 40 riyals ($11) to 5,850 riyals ($1,607).

Published: November 2022

By: Rafa