The first of the knockout games in the 2022 World Cup takes place on Saturday (3pm GMT) when the Netherlands and United States clash in Al Rayyan.
The Dutch rarely looked troubled as they finished on top of Group A while Team USA had to battle all the way through their section. Coach Gregg Berhalter’s men were unbeaten, but eventually qualified via a narrow 1-0 win over unfancied Iran.
Those early results hint at a Dutch win, but how do the bookies see it? Read on for our full Holland vs USMNT preview with betting tips.
Match Odds
The Netherlands start as favourites to progress with most bookmakers offering 10/11 on the Dutch to win in normal time. The draw is the next option at 12/5 while victory for the USMNT is on offer at 17/5. Those odds are for the result in 90 minutes, which means that we have a separate To Qualify market. Here, the Dutch shorten to 4/9 while the U.S. go out to best industry odds of 2/1.
The teams have previously met on five occasions and all of those games have been international friendlies. The Dutch have won four times with USA securing the most recent match with a 4-3 victory in 2015.
Their respective World Cup campaigns to date suggest that Holland should come through comfortably, but this preview will firstly take a look at the key players before committing to a result.
Side Markets
Dutch striker Cody Gakpo has opened the scoring in each of his side’s three group games, but can the PSV Eindhoven front man keep the run going? Despite that record, Gakpo is merely the fourth favourite to open the scoring on Saturday at best odds of 15/2. At the top of the first goalscorer betting is Memphis Depay at 9/2, followed by Luuk de Jong at 11/2 and Steven Bergwijn at 7/1.
Over in the USA camp, Timothy Weah and Christian Pulisic were the only players to get on the scoresheet in three group games. Pulisic is the leading scorer in the squad and is available at 11/1, but he is under an injury cloud heading into the knockouts.
Other options for the United States include Jesus Ferreira at 17/2, Haji Wright at 10/1, Josh Sergeant at 10/1 and Timothy Weah at 12/1.
In other side markets, Both Teams to Score is quoted for Saturday’s contest at best odds of 21/20. That means that the ‘no’ option on BTTS carries the shorter option this time and it is on offer at a general 8/11.
Over in the Total Goals betting, a stake Above the 2.5 goal line is quoted at 13/10. If we push that up one stage, Over 3.5 goals would deliver a return at a top price of 15/4. Those that are expecting a dire 90 minutes could take the Under 2.5 goals selection which is available at 4/7.
That leaves us to round off with some Correct Score suggestions. The goals betting hints at a narrow win for the Dutch, so you may want to consider Netherlands 2 USA 1 at best odds of 9/1. The same scoreline in favour of the USMNT is available at 16/1, while the 1-1 draw is listed at a top price of 6/1.
Our Preview’s Netherlands vs USMNT Betting Tips Verdict
It is clear that the bookmakers aren’t expecting too many goals in this match. The odds on Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals are rarely this long, but should we look to take advantage?
The US scored just twice in their three group matches while conceding one goal at the other end of the pitch. The Netherlands topped their section, but they were not exactly an orange goal machine in those opening stages. Five goals were scored by the Dutch team as they also conceded just once.
Those markets also hint at a narrow win for the Netherlands and we agree with that assessment. It could be close and it may need extra time to sort the two teams. The Dutch have not always been convincing and have so far done just enough to progress.
USMNT, meanwhile, can consider themselves fortunate to have scraped through a tough section where Iran exceeded expectations while Wales fell flat. Based on those results from the group stages, we have to side with the Dutch.
As for confirmed selections, all the value falls in the goals betting. Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals are the picks with the two options carrying higher odds than usual. The USA may have turned in three dour performances, but they cannot sit back and let their opponents dictate.
As for the Netherlands, there is a feeling that they have not quite switched on yet. Key player Memphis Depay has only just returned from injury and the Dutch can get better as the knockouts progress.
It has the potential to be one of the more entertaining of the Round of 16 matches and these two selections will hopefully make it a profitable one. Remember, the two betting tips – at best odds – for this preview are for the result in 90 minutes, excluding any extra time:
Matt Harris is a football writer for Just Bookies. Other sports in his portfolio of specialities include golf and cricket. Matt has contributed to innumerable large organisations and media brands. These include: Betfair, BetVictor, USA Betting & Unibet. 