Home | News | 2022 FIFA World Cup Group A Preview

2022 FIFA World Cup Group A Preview

By Jeff Stinger

Roughly three months separate us from the much-awaited 2022 FIFA World Cup. The groups are set and the first batch features host country Qatar and European giants the Netherlands. It’s an intriguing group with teams coming from four continents. With that, Nitrobetting shares a preview of Group A, odds, and defining factors of each squad.

Be sure to check out our latest Nitro Survivor contests to maximize your winning potential throughout the 2022 NFL and WNBA seasons! Test your survivor skills with our free-entry survivor pools right now! Also available are buy-in survivor contests with massive Bitcoin prizes for winners! Click here to view and join our ongoing Nitro Survivor contests!

2022 FIFA World Cup Group A Preview

READ MORE: 2022 FIFA World Cup Group B Preview

Netherlands


2022 FIFA World Cup odds: 200

The Dutch national team is the heavy favorite in Group A. Despite making 11 appearances in the prestigious soccer event and consistent FIFA ranking within the top ten in the past ten years, the Netherlands only managed three runner-up finishes (1974, 1978, 2010). The 1988 UEFA European Championship winners have another go at the trophy in November under the leadership of Louis van Gaal.

There’s no lack of talent in this lineup. Liverpool star defender and 2019 UEFA Champions League winner Virgil van Dijk takes the helm. Matthijs de Ligt is another prominent figure in the defense, working alongside the 31-year-old captain. Meanwhile, the attacking side features names like Memphis Depay, Frenkie de Jong, and Vincent Janssen. These names are enough to propel The Flying Dutchmen up to Group As favorite pick.

Senegal


2022 FIFA World Cup odds: +350

No African team has ever won the World Cup title, but Senegal is a must-watch team. The Lions of Teranga secured the Africa Cup of Nations in February 2022 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. By the end of the same month, Sadio Mane netted the winning penalty to deny Egypt a ticket to Qatar.

The lineup headlines ex-Liverpool forward Sadio Mane. He recently brought his services to Bayern Munich in a 35-million GBP deal. Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy will start for Senegal as well, while Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly and PSG’s Idrissa Gana Gueye add more grit to the squad. They are the second-best team in Group A. If the three-time World Cup participants qualify for the knockout stage and gain momentum in the early stages, they may be tough to beat throughout the tournament.

Ecuador


2022 FIFA World Cup odds: +450

The South Americans make their way back to the World Cup since first qualifying in 2002. Ecuador’s best result was a Round-of-16 appearance in 2006. They might not produce solid results at this stage of international football, but they participated in Copa America 29 times with a team-best result of fourth place in 1959 and 1993.

Head coach Gustavo Alfaro named Fenerbahçe Enner Valencia the team captain. The 32-year-old forward already scored 19 goals for his club and 35 for Ecuador since joining the national team in 2012. Joining him in the frontline are Carlos Gruezo, Angel Mena, and Gonzalo Plata. Meanwhile, Xavier Arreaga and Byron Castillo take charge of the defensive line. Ultimately, La Tri sits behind the Netherlands and Senegal on paper, but are solid Group A sleeper picks.

Qatar


2022 FIFA World Cup odds: +1,200

The host nation is up for possibly the biggest challenge of their soccer team’s international career. Manager Felix Sanchez is an apt name in the sport, first coming to Qatar in 2006. Over the years, he took over the Under 19s and Under 23s before moving up to the national team in 2017. Since then he helped the team to the Asian Cup in 2019 and a third-place victory in the Arab Cup in December 2021.

As tournament hosts, The Maroon gets automatic qualification for the finals. This is the nation’s first-ever World Cup appearance and the first time an Arab nation will accommodate the competition. Having very little international success, especially against European and South American teams, makes the squad Group As biggest underdog. Nevertheless, the World Cup is an event full of surprises. We might find Qatar bringing in success similar to 2018 hosts Russia in the previous iteration.

Where to Bet on the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Bitcoin


Adding to the thrill of league soccer, Nitrobetting keeps the action going with the latest 2022 FIFA World Cup odds. We house early futures odds for the winner, with additional game odds as the tournament draws closer.

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2022 FIFA World Cup previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest soccer betting odds on the sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.