On the second day of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, an in-form Dutch side will be taking on Senegal who will be without their main striker Sadio Mane. USA and Wales will lock horns in a Group B encounter that could potentially have major qualification implications.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Nov 21, 2022 09:51 IST
Louis van Gaal’s side will be hoping to start the World Cup on a high (Courtesy: Reuters)
By India Today Web Desk: The second day of the FIFA World Cup will see three matches with Group A and Group B being in prime focus.
England and Iran will be looking horns in the first match of the day, which will be followed by the Group A encounter between the Netherlands and Senegal. The night will be rounded off by the clash between Wales and the USA.
In-form Netherlands take on Sadio Mane-less Senegal
The Netherlands come into the World Cup, looking to change their best finish in the tournament from runners-up to champions. The Dutch have played the final three times and have been beaten in all of them. The team failed to make it to the last edition in Russia and will be looking to get off to a strong start.
Louis van Gaal’s team are in red-hot form as they are on a 15-match unbeaten run and they will be looking to claim all three points against a Senegal side who have been rocked by the withdrawal of their star forward, Sadio Mane.
The 30-year-old had to pull out just days before the tournament got started and he has been their main man in recent times. Mane’s heroics saw Senegal become the African Champions and secure qualification to the World Cup with both wins coming against Egypt.
With Ecuador claiming the win over Qatar in the opening match, the African nation will need to get a result against the mighty Dutch to keep their knockout stage hopes alive.
Wales and USA lock horns in must-win game
The stakes are high for the match between Wales and USA when you take into consideration Group B. England are considered to be favourites to win the group and the other three teams, including Iran, will be vying for the final knockout stage spot.
Wales are set to compete in only their second-ever World Cup and will aim to give Gareth Bale a proper send-off. Bale has been the country’s best player for the last decade or so and would be hoping to lead them from the front and possibly, a repeat of their tremendous performance at the Euros 2016.
Standing in their way today will be a young USA side led by the likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams. There will be concerns over the form of Pulisic, who has found playing time hard to come by at Chelsea.
Coach Gregg Berhalter, as quoted by Reuters, had great belief in his side and hailed them as a talented group.
“We believe we have a talented group, a strong team spirit, and one that is ready to compete.”
Three points will be the aim of both teams as they lock horns at the Al Rayyan stadium.
For more latest Sports News Click Here