Predictions World Cup- Day 6

Wales vs Iran | World Cup (25.11.2022, 11:00)

The first match of the World Cup, according to the final results, for both Wales and Iran, did not disappoint. In fact, Wales had a 1-1 tie against the United States at the end of a match with two faces, corroborating the theory of those who saw the match between the two potential second forces of the group as very balanced, while Queiroz’s formation, as predicted precisely, led to a clear loss against England, even if the six goals conceded are still many. Once the debut has been archived, this second day is already the one where we need to find certainties and, more properly, points. Iran was seen against England as very defensive, with a 5-4-1 formation that was intended to stop the Three Lions national team but yielded nothing and will most likely have to be adjusted to counter a Wales that appeared very attackable and a bit too passive against the US for the first time. Page’s changes and the team’s pride after Weah’s goal made the British team play much better in the second half. Gareth Bale scored a penalty kick to tie the game, which was a well-deserved equalizer.

However, it is difficult to respond to what the two national teams have demonstrated: Iran will inevitably have to risk something more because the initial defeat is already a bit conditioning, just as Wales cannot take too long to get into the game, not to be forced to run up to a match that, in theory, must be won. Both teams could therefore change their faces, and considering that only two teams arrived at the World Cup with many certainties and large numbers, the course of the race is far from obvious. Certainly, the way Wales finished the game and the six goals conceded by Iran would lead to seeing Bale and his companions much better, but for now, the 2022 of the “Dragons” has more shadows than lights, and Iran, led by an extremely expert coach like Queiroz, will try (as he said) to draw the right lessons from the predictable KO against England to lead a more vigorous test that can at least bring the game into balance until the end.

Form Guide

Wales WLDLLL

Coming into this encounter, Wales’ previous World Cup meeting against the United States ended in a 1-1 draw.

During that game, Wales held 41% of the possession and had 7 shots on goal, with only 3 of those shots hitting the target. On the other hand, the United States had six shots on goal, but only one of them was successful in hitting the target.

In recent years, Wales has only rarely exhibited the kind of defensive resolve that is necessary for success. In fact, Wales have failed to keep their opponents from scoring in 5 of their last 6 matches, allowing a total of 9 goals to be scored against them as a result.

Iran WLWDWL

Iran will be looking to redeem themselves after suffering a defeat in their previous World Cup match, which took place against England. They will be hoping to win this match.

During that game, Iran had 22% possession of the ball and 8 shots on goal, with 3 of those shots hitting the target. The opposition, England, had 13 shots on goal, with 7 of them landing in the net.

Iran has scored eight times across their most recent six matches, bringing their total goal tally to 16. Iran also managed to find the back of the net on each of those occasions. During that span, their defenders have been responsible for allowing 9 goals to be scored against them.  

 

Injured and suspended

Wales: clean bill of health and no suspension concerns

Cameroon: clean bill of health and no suspension concerns

                          

Wales vs Iran Predicted XI

Wales Predicted XI: Hennessey, Mepham, Rodon, Davies, Roberts, Williams, Ramsey, Ampadu, Bale, Wilson, Moore.

Iran Predicted XI: Hosseini, Pouraliganji, Cheshmi, Hosseini, Moharrami, Haji Safi, Nourollahi, Karimi, Ezatolahi, Azmoun, Taremi.

 

Prediction

We believe that there is a good chance that both Wales and Iran will end up scoring in a match that should be a close battle with very little to choose between the two teams.

Let’s see how this one plays out, but it appears like we might end up with a tie. As a result, we anticipate a very competitive match that will end in a 1-1 draw after the whole 90 minutes.

Qatar vs Senegal | World Cup (25.11.2022, 14:00)

When two teams in an important competition such as a World Cup or a European Championship lose the first group game and face each other in the second, we can almost always speak of a decisive match that immediately changes the atmosphere of enthusiasm and celebration typical of the debut (especially if, as in this case, the host team is involved) into a tough challenge atmosphere, from inside or out. The match between Qatar and Senegal responds to these characteristics, as it pits two defeated and disappointed teams against each other. Qatar will also be remembered, in spite of itself, as the first host country to lose the opening match of the World Cup, but this “record” would be archived without any worries in case a qualification for the Round of 16 were to arrive, which, however, passes almost obligatorily with a win against Senegal. The African champions also lost in the first match by the same score (2-0), even though Netherland is a stronger team than Ecuador and didn’t score until the 84th minute, after Qatar had already lost twice in the first half.

These details, combined with Senegal’s excellent results in this 2022, combined with victories over Egypt (in the African Cup final and in the World Cup play-offs), certainly make the African team start further ahead in the forecasts, which, despite being without their ace Sadio Mané, can certainly do better even under coach Cissé’s guidance than what was expressed in its debut. Similar words to express the same concept were also used by the home coach, Felix Sanchez Bas: “in fact, Qatar’s chances are undoubtedly down following the defeat to Ecuador.” The pre-World Cup friendlies had told us of a team potentially ready for the challenge, but the technical gap with the opponents appeared significant. It will therefore take a competitively and technically better test to try to collect at least one point, which can allow the hosts not to see the qualifying dream already vanish soon.

Form Guide

Qatar DWWWWL

After suffering a loss to Ecuador by a score of 0-2 in their previous World Cup match, Qatar will be trying to bounce back with a better performance today.

During that match, Qatar held 47% of the possession and attempted five shots on goal, but none of them were successful. Their competitors from Ecuador had a total of 6 shots on goal, of which 3 were on target.

In their last six matches, Qatar has found the back of the net eight times. At the other end of the pitch, the total number of goals scored against them in those same matches comes to 5.

Senegal WDLWWD

Senegal will be looking to redeem themselves after suffering a defeat in their previous World Cup match, which took place against the Netherlands. They will be attempting to do so here.

During that match, Senegal had 47% of the ball possession and 15 shots on goal, with 4 of those shots finding the target. The Netherlands had ten shots on goal, but only three of them were on target.

Their “goals against” tally now stands at 3, which is the result of a string of hard-working displays by the Senegalese defense throughout all of their most recent six matches. During the same time frame, their forwards have been able to score 7 goals for themselves.

 

Injured and suspended

Qatar: clean bill of health and no suspension concerns

Senegal: clean bill of health and no suspension concerns

 

Qatar vs Senegal Predicted XI

Qatar Predicted XI: Barsham, Khoukhi, Salman, Fadlalla, Miguel, Elamin, Al Haidos, Boudiaf, Hatem, Ali, Afif.

Senegal Predicted XI: Mendy, Sabaly, Koulibaly, Cisse, Diallo, Gueye, Mendy, N’Diaye, Sarr, Dia, Diatta.

 

Prediction

We believe that there is a good chance that both Qatar and Senegal will not end up scoring in a match that should be a close battle with very little to choose between the two teams.

Let’s see how this one plays out, but it appears like we might end up with a tie. As a result, we anticipate a very competitive match that will end in a 0-0 draw after the whole 90 minutes.

Netherlands vs Ecuador | World Cup (25.11.2022, 17:00)

Netherland and Ecuador, who lead their respective groups after defeating Senegal and Qatar by 2-0 scores, have both started the World Cup on the “right foot.” The Netherlands were, and still are, the underdogs as potential group winners before the event kicked off, so the win in the first game didn’t change much of what was known about Van Gaal’s national team. However, the overall performance was perhaps less spectacular than expected. In any case, for the Oranje, it was yet another game with more than one goal scored, despite the two goals from Gakpo and Klaassen arriving very late in the match (84′ and 99′). The opponent of the day, Ecuador, will most likely be the same one it has always been in the last two years and proved to be in the opening match (even if Qatar wasn’t exactly the toughest testing ground) or a tough team that confirmed that they have an important defense and a forward of value and substance, Enner Valencia, who has already reached his seventeenth goal of the season with his brace.

It will therefore be a challenge between an excellent attack and an excellent defense, both tested in the previous months by high-level matches. Just think of the five overall goals scored by the Netherlands against Belgium in the two Nations League games or the double 1-1 draws where Ecuador managed to stem the “mouths of fire” from the attacks of Argentina and Brazil. The match will be played after the one between Senegal and Qatar, and this could perhaps change the tactical plans of the South American team, while the Netherlands will probably play their attack game in any case, even if Louis Van Gaal (on his third adventure as commissioner coach of the national team) certainly does not lack the experience to manage any scenario that will be created.

Form Guide

Netherlands WDWWWD

After beating Senegal 0-2 in their previous match at the World Cup, the Netherlands will be hoping for a similar outcome this time around.

During that match, the Netherlands held 53% of the possession and had 10 shots on goal, with 3 of them finding the back of the net. Senegal had a total of 15 shots on goal, only four of which were on target.

The Netherlands national team managed to score ten goals throughout their previous six matches under the direction of Louis van Gaal. During that span of time, they have been subjected to a total of 5 goals scored against them.

Ecuador WDWDDW

Ecuador enters this match on the heels of a World Cup victory, having defeated Qatar by a score of 2-0 in their most recent match.

During that game, Ecuador held possession for 53% of the time and had 6 shots on goal, with 3 of those shots finding the target. Qatar had five shots on goal, but none of them were on target.

The Ecuadorian defense has turned in a string of rock-solid performances, as seen by the fact that they have conceded no goals in any of their last six matches combined. During the same time frame, their own forwards have scored four goals for themselves.

 

Injured and suspended

Netherlands: clean bill of health and no suspension concerns

Ecuador: clean bill of health and no suspension concerns

 

Netherlands vs Ecuador Predicted XI

Netherlands Predicted XI: Noppert, de Ligt, van Dijk, Ake, Dumfries, Blind, Berghuis, de Jong, Gakpo, Bergwijn, Depay.

Ecuador Predicted XI: Galindez, Preciado, Torres, Hincapie, Estupinan, Plata, Mendez, Caicedo, Ibarra, Valencia, Sarmiento.

 

Prediction

We think that Ecuador has enough firepower to score goals against this Netherlands team, but it’s likely that the number of goals they score won’t be quite as many as the number of goals the Dutch team lets in.

We anticipate a competitive game, with the Netherlands emerging victorious by a score of 2-1 by the time the referee blows the final whistle on the match.

England vs United States  | World Cup (25.11.2022, 20:00)

The English-speaking derby, always fascinating (England vs. USA), is worth a significant portion of the round’s passage for these two national teams, who face off on the second day of their group. England is looking for confirmations and improvements after the easy success against Iran (6-2). Paradoxically, the three points (taken for granted by most) were not under discussion, but rather the game proposal and the intensity of the Southgate team, which saw many ups but also some downs. The coach did not like the two goals conceded by him, albeit with the game largely archived, and asked for more concentration for the next challenge, which could already be worth the mathematical qualification and whose importance has suddenly increased due to the possible lack of Harry Kane. However, the Tottenham striker should be present, thus giving the Three Lions national team more certainty. Up front, there will be a ferocious team that showed good football at times against Wales but will have to put in more effort to resist.

In fact, as seen at their debut, the USA led a good first half, scoring the opening goal through Tim Weah, but then suffered too much in the second half to be able to keep the success, despite the fact that the goal conceded came from a penalty after an inconsiderate intervention by Zimmermann on Bale. The tactical doubt, therefore, will be linked to the type of match that the States will try to play, for which a possible draw against England would be very important, if not fundamental, for the passage of the round. However, any defensive attitude required against Wales did not yield as much as hoped, and here, coach Berhalter will have to be good at finding the right synthesis. England, on the other hand, does not intend to make calculations by seeking an immediate decisive victory in order to advance to the second round calm before the all-British match with Wales in the final round, which could certainly create some pitfalls. 

Form Guide

England DDLLDW

After defeating Iran by a score of 6-2 in the World Cup, England will be looking for more of the same in their next match in the hopes of extending their winning streak.

During that match, England held possession of the ball for 78% of the time and had 13 shots on goal, with 7 of them finding the target. Iran, their rivals, had eight shots on goal, with three of them hitting the target.

In recent years, it has been unusual for England to play a match without making at least one concession. In fact, England’s defense has been penetrated in 5 of their previous 6 matches, resulting in 11 goals conceded in that span of time.

United States LWDLDD

The United States of America’s most recent World Cup match, which was played against Wales, ended in a 1-1 draw.

The United States had 59% of possession in that game and had 6 shots on goal, with only 1 of them being on target. Wales had seven shots on goal, but only three of them were on target.

A relatively low number of goals have been scored between the United States and its opponents in five of the most recent six games that have involved the United States. The total average number of goals scored per game over that stretch comes out to a pitiful 1.5, with the average number of goals scored by Team USA coming in at 0.67.

 

Injured and suspended

England: clean bill of health and no suspension concerns

United States: clean bill of health and no suspension concerns

 

England vs United States Predicted XI

England Predicted XI: Pickford; Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Mount, Sterling; Kane.

United States Predicted XI: Turner; Dest, Zimmerman, Ream, A. Robinson; McKennie, Adams, Musah; Weah, Sargent, Pulisic.

 

Prediction

We are anticipating that England will most likely take advantage of the opportunity to score goals.

However, the United States may have difficulty finding the back of the net on their own, and as a result, we do not believe that they will likely be able to end up managing to get on the scoresheet for this match.

As a result, we are forecasting a relatively easy win of 1-0 for England when the whole 90 minutes have been played.