It's a star-studded showdown right off the bat at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar when Group A favorites the Netherlands and Senegal square off on Monday. The other two teams in the group, Ecuador and host Qatar, kicked things off Sunday. Now the Dutch, a three-time finalist, make their return to the main stage against Senegal, the Africa Cup of Nations champions. The Netherlands missed the 2018 World Cup but have made 10 appearances, while Senegal failed to advance out of the group stage in Russia, which was their second time in the World Cup. These teams have never faced each other, and the Dutch are the eighth-ranked team in the world while Senegal are 18th.
Kickoff at Al Thumama Stadium is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on Monday. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Dutch as the -145 favorites (risk $145 to win $100) in its latest Senegal vs. Netherlands odds. Senegal are +470 underdogs, a draw is priced at +240 and the over/under for total goals is set at 2.5. Before locking in any Netherlands vs. Senegal picks, you have to see the 2022 World Cup predictions from SportsLine soccer insider Brandt Sutton.
Sutton, a former collegiate soccer player, has been SportsLine's top soccer editor for more than five years. He has followed soccer closely for much longer and factors in managerial tactics, projected lineups and past performances to make the most informed decisions possible, keeping his finger on the pulse of the game all over the globe.
Sutton also has been on a roll with his best bets, going 151-114-1 over his last 266 soccer picks in 2022, returning more than $2,300 for $100 bettors.
Now, Sutton has broken down the Netherlands vs. Senegal matchup from all sides and just locked in his World Cup picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Senegal vs. Netherlands:
- Netherlands vs. Senegal spread: Netherlands -0.5 (-145)
- Netherlands vs. Senegal over/under: 2.5 goals
- Netherlands vs. Senegal money line: Netherlands -145, Senegal +470, Draw +240
- SEN: Senegal have a 13-4 advantage in goals over their past 10 competitive matches.
- NED: The Netherlands have outscored their opponents 25-8 in their past 10 official matches.
- Netherlands vs. Senegal picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back the Netherlands
The Oranje will be without Memphis Depay, but Senegal being without Sadio Mane is going to have a much more negative impact. Depay has 42 goals in 81 international matches, but the Dutch have other options. Mane is Senegal's all-time leading scorer (34 in 93 matches), and without him the Lions will have a lot of trouble unlocking the Dutch defense. The Netherlands are on a 15-game unbeaten streak (11-4-0), a span where they have outscored their opponents 41-13. Captain Virgil Van Dijk remains an imposing presence in the middle of the Dutch defense.
Frenkie de Jong is the engine of the Dutch attack, controlling the pace and holding possession. Cody Gakpo, 23, and Steven Bergwijn, 25, can step up in the attack, and they are excelling in the Eredivisie this season. Gapko leads the league in both goals (nine) and assists (12) with PSV Eindhoven, and Bergwijn is tied for second with eight goals for Ajax. The Netherlands have advanced from the group stage in all 10 World Cups they have reached.
Why you should back Senegal
Senegal are a tough team to break down, and they have posted six clean sheets in their past eight competitive matches. Sadio Mane was hoping to be ready for the 2022 World Cup, but a lingering injury will cause him to miss out. That's a huge blow, but there are plenty of other talented players in the squad. Manager Aliou Cisse is likely to lock things down in the back, counting on captain Kalidou Koulibaly to play his physical game in front of Edouard Mendy. The 30-year-old lost his No. 1 goalkeeper job with Chelsea but remains a top talent.
Senegal also have talent up front in Ismaila Sarr of Watford and Famara Diedhiou of Alanyaspor. Both have scored 10 international goals, and Sarr has six EPL goals, while Diedhiou scored 11 in the last Super Lig campaign. The Lions defeated a tough Egypt team that features Mohamed Salah in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, then beat them again in the World Cup qualifying playoffs. Senegal conceded just twice in their AFCON run.
How to make Senegal vs. Netherlands picks
Sutton has analyzed the Netherlands vs. Senegal match from all sides and he has released his confident best bet and has a full breakdown of the match. He's only sharing those picks here.
So who wins Senegal vs. Netherlands in Monday's Group A World Cup match? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Senegal vs. Netherlands, all from the soccer expert who is up more than $2,300 on his soccer picks in 2022, and find out.
