Senegal vs. Netherlands: 2022 World Cup Odds and Predictions

Edgar Chaput
November 19, 2022

This pairing promises more fireworks than Qatar and Ecuador, as each has earned itself a top 20 FIFA world ranking. Senegal is 18^th whereas the Dutch are 8^th.

The Oranje are pinned as -201 favourites on the World Cup odds. The O/U for goals scored looks to be 2.25.

Senegal vs. Netherlands Betting Analysis

Netherlands -182
Draw +282
Senegal +518

Qatar 2022 marks the first time in international football history that the Netherlands and Senegal meet on the pitch. There’s a first time for everything!

That said, each country comes with World Cup baggage. For Senegal, Qatar 2022 marks its third presence on the big stage and, impressively, its second consecutive after Russia 2018. While their tournament didn’t last very long, a much better showing was 20 years ago at the Korea-Japan event when the Lions of Terenga made it to the quarterfinals when they kneeled before Turkey 1-0.

Traditionally, the Netherlands is no stranger to playing on the world’s biggest stage. The irony here is that the nation was absent in Russia 2018. In fact, the past half-decade has been a matter of rebuilding given that they didn’t even qualify for the 2016 Euros either. The men in orange will hope to bring their country’s first-ever World Cup trophy home, with their best showings being a trio of runner-up positions in 1974, 1978, and 2010.

Senegal

Manager Aliou Cissé, who has guided the team since 2015, has unquestionably helped the men’s team rise in the ranks of international football. Not only did Senegal return to the biggest stage in 2018, but they are the most recent Africa Cup of Nations champions. Moreover, they claimed victory over Egypt in the final, the latter being a regular winner of the tournament in question.

The elephant in the room is Sadio Mané’s injury. Not two weeks ago Senegalese probably felt pretty good about what their boys could accomplish in Qatar. Then, in a mid-week Bundesliga match, the Bayern Munich striker suffered a first-half leg injury. He is with the team at the tournament, but he won’t play the first few games, assuming the unit even makes it out of the group stage.

What better opportunity therefore for striker Ismaïl Sarr to shine under the spotlight? He’s looked very good and hungry for goals during the team’s recent friendlies. The attacking style uses clever linkups and delightful through-balls that should give Sarr at least a few opportunities to strike.

Netherlands

Louis van Gaal is back at it again with the national team. A mediocre stint way back in 2000-2002 was followed by a much better one between 2012 and 2014. His final year saw him lead the Oranje to third place in Brazil, defeating the hosts to capture a bronze medal, no less.

Since then, the team’s makeup is very different although tactically it stays as true as possible to the Dutch tradition of brilliant, high-flying attacking football. The biggest concern for this generation is whether they can withstand the pressure of knockout stage play. Euro 2020 (played in 2021) saw the squad breeze through its group, only to exit the competition meekly after the first elimination game.

One thing is beyond doubt: the team is loaded with talent, and they’ve looked good in recent League of Nations games. Midfielder Frenkie de Jong, center back Virgil van Dijk, forward Memphis Depay, forward Cody Gakpo, there is no shortage of quality.