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Your best bets (odds via Caesars Sportsbook) If you’re looking to bet on the World Cup, ESPN contributors Dan Thomas and Dalen Cuff are here to give you key tips on odds, options and futures . Here’s what we have for the Tuesday matches.
Group A Netherlands (-650) vs. Qatar (+1750), Draw (+500)
Paul Carr: Netherlands go through with either a win or a draw, but they should be motivated to win this game in an effort to win Group A and avoid (probably) England in the round of 16. Having said that, the Dutch were extremely unimpressive against Ecuador , taking only two shots the entire game. I don’t trust them to cover the goal line, and I lean toward Qatar at +1.5 (+135).
Dalen Cuff: The Dutch have yet to play a solid 90 minutes in this tournament — and Ecuador were the better side against them. They will be motivated to win, but I’m not playing this match. It’s tough to find value anywhere and I like Paul’s thought above, but Qatar have been so bad I can’t put my money on them performing.
Ecuador (+140) vs. Senegal (+205), Draw (+215)
Carr: Assuming Enner Valencia plays, I lean Ecuador here. They’ve simply been better than Senegal at both ends through two games, allowing only seven shots — and just one of which was inside 14 yards. Senegal must win to advance, so at some point they’ll open up, which plays right into Ecuador’s hands … er … feet.
Cuff: I’ve been bullish on Ecuador this tournament and they’ve delivered in both matches. Valencia’s availability is key. If he plays, I may go with a straight win bet. Regardless of their ability to score, they’re a stout defensive group and teams (including the Dutch) struggle to generate chances against them. My favorite play here is Ecuador to keep a clean sheet (+160).
Group B United States (-110) vs. Iran (+320), Draw (+235)
Carr: My favorite bet here is under 0.5 goals in the first half (+170). Things might get weird late in the game, but I think both teams will again start out cautiously, knowing how much one goal can change everything.
Cuff: I’m also on under 0.5 goals in the first half. However, I do think the US will win this match — and I’m not being biased. I firmly believe that, if you took this same American side with their past performances and put them in a different jersey, I’d simply say the US is a better squad than Iran. I’ll go with a straight win bet (+101).
Wales (+675) vs. England (-235), Draw (+330)
Carr: I’m surprised that under 2.5 goals is even money here. Wales are as good defensively as their reputation, but England also haven’t been great offensively. Even in the 6-2 win over Iran, England “only” had 2.1 expected goals, meaning they just had a huge finishing hot streak in that game. I wasn’t prepared to take the under because I figured it would be heavily juiced, so I love it at even money.
Cuff: The under here has gotten juiced to -125 — and rightfully so. I imagine things will continue in that direction. Wales’ attack is insipid. England’s hasn’t been inspired either, but their talent is obvious. I like England to win to nil (+110).
News and notes Queiroz said on Monday his side will not use off-field controversy as motivation in their crucial World Cup Group B clash against the US on Tuesday. The buildup to the game has been marred by tensions between the country’s football bodies, including US Soccer’s social media accounts displaying the Iranian flag without its Islamic emblem, which led to the Iranian federation calling on FIFA to take action against the USSF. “If after 42 years in this game, I still believe I can win football matches by mental games, I think I didn’t learn about the game,” Queiroz said.
Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana was left out of the team for their 3-3 draw with Serbia on Monday due to “disciplinary reasons” and his availability for Friday’s match against Brazil has yet to be determined, according to coach Rigobert Song. The manager was unwilling to provide specific details of Onana’s exclusion and said there would be time to discuss the issue in more detail in the future, but sources have told ESPN that Onana and Song clashed over the coach’s preferred defensive approach.
Berhalter said on Monday that he and his players had no part in US Soccer social media posts that removed the central image of Iran’s flag , has apologized for them and has insisted that the focus of his team is on the decisive Group B match. The US coach added that his thoughts are with the Iranian people, many of whom have engaged in protests over the treatment of women after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been detained by the country’s morality police. “We had no idea about what US Soccer put out — the staff, the players had no idea,” Berhalter said. “And for us, our focus is on this match. I don’t want to sound aloof or not caring by saying that, but the guys that worked really hard for the last four years, we have 72 hours between England and Iran, and we really are just focused on how to get past Iran and [how] we can go to this knockout stage of the tournament.”
A protester carrying a pride flag entered the pitch during Portugal ‘s win over Uruguay on Monday before being led away by security staff. The pitch invader, who briefly stopped the Group H match in the second half, was also wearing a T-shirt carrying the messages “respect for Iranian women” and “save Ukraine .” After the match, Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves said: “We know what has happened around this World Cup. It’s a normal thing to happen. Of course, we are all with them as well. Iran as well, because I saw his shirt. I hope nothing happens to the boy because we understand his message and I think all the world understood it as well.”
What else caught our eye Give it up for Niclas Fullkrug , who got to live every sports’ fan’s dream in scoring a big goal at the World Cup as Germany fought back for a 1-1 draw with Spain on Sunday. Now, you can relive the goal in Lego form.
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Niclas Füllkrug’s equalizing goal for Germany vs. Spain at the World Cup gets the full Lego treatment.
Matches on tap for Tuesday Group A: Netherlands vs. Qatar (Al Bayt Stadium; 10 a.m. ET) The host nation has nothing but pride to play for on Tuesday as they were the first team of the 32 to be eliminated, but pride goes a long way. Can they add to their World Cup goals against a robust Oranje team that would top the group — and face the Group B runners-up in the last-16 — with a victory of their own? We think the Dutch make it three wins from three here.
Group A: Ecuador vs. Senegal (Khalifa International Stadium; 10 a.m. ET) Ecuador have a one-point edge on the always dangerous African side heading into their decider, but either could advance from the group with a win. The seemingly ageless Enner Valencia (who turned 33 two weeks before the World Cup began) has scored all of Ecuador’s goals so far; can someone else step up? As for Senegal, many experts thought the injury to Sadio Mane doomed them to an early exit, but a 3-1 win over Qatar last Friday shows they still have plenty of firepower.
Group B: Iran vs. USA (Al Thumama Stadium; 2 p.m. ET) We covered this at the top, but it’s really the ultimate scenario in sports: win or go home. The question is … who will win and who will go home?
Group B: Wales vs. England (Ahmad bin Ali Stadium; 2 p.m. ET) Gareth Southgate’s side played to a 0-0 snoozer against the US on Friday that doesn’t hurt their chances of advancing — they have four points from two games, enough to top Group B — but they’ll want to show a bit more life and spark in order to defeat their noisy neighbours. Meanwhile, in what could Gareth Bale’s last professional game, would there be any better goodbye to the national team than a game-winning goal that beats England and puts you into the last 16? Anything could happen … including that.
