USA v Wales: Group B rivals hard to split
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USA v Wales betting tips, odds and preview
Wales end their long wait for a return to the World Cup when they face the United States in the second match in Group B.
Back on the biggest stage for the first time since 1958, Wales are not short of tournament experience at least and will hope to hit the ground running in what could prove a decisive meeting with the USA.
Monday’s match at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan kicks off at 7pm and is live on ITV.
Goals in short supply
The World Cup odds suggest these two teams will be battling to finish as runners-up behind group favourites England, with both priced up at evens to reach the knockout stage.
Wales were the last European team to qualify for Qatar 2022, having beaten Ukraine in the play-offs, and are now hoping to repeat their Euro 2016 heroics when they famously reached the semi-finals.
🌪🌪🌪#ArBenYByd | #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/bSNXOMQd4K
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) November 14, 2022
The USA have a better World Cup pedigree, having qualified for seven successive finals before missing out four years ago.
They were only third in CONCACAF qualifying though, finishing below Canada and Mexico, but were Gold Cup champions last summer when five of their six victories were by a 1-0 scoreline.
Low-scoring games seem likely in Qatar given a lack of a world-class striker looks one of their biggest weaknesses, while Wales may be more focused on avoiding defeat rather than pushing for a winner.
Looking at the USA v Wales odds, 2/1 for a draw is the first of our betting tips.
Fitness worries over Wales duo
Securing three points from the first game is the dream scenario for both teams, with the USA 13/8 to do so while Wales winning odds of 19/10 highlight there is little to choose between them.
Wales will hope Gareth Bale can again produce a moment of inspiration but there have to be some question marks over his fitness.
The 33-year-old has played just half an hour of football since completing his first 90 minutes for over a year in Wales’ Nations League defeat to Poland in September.
Bale revealed he had been troubled by a “slight issue” and “was not 100 per cent” after coming off the bench to score a crucial late goal in Los Angeles FC’s MLS Cup final triumph over Philadelphia Union on November 5.
He insists playing 90 minutes in all three group matches will be “no problem” but Wales may not be able to rely on their captain quite as much as they have done previously.
There is also a concern over midfielder Joe Allen, who has not played since September 17 because of a hamstring problem.
The Wales squad looks short of strength in depth and a young American team may come strong the longer the game goes on.
The USA are 2/1 to win the second half while Wales HT/Draw FT at 14/1 looks good value for USA v Wales betting tips.
Moore can be main man for Wales
If anybody can ease the goalscoring burden on Bale then Wales striker Kieffer Moore could be the man.
The Bournemouth striker, at 6ft 5in, has the size to trouble most defences and headed to Qatar in fine form with three goals in his last three Premier League appearances.
Moore is 9/2 to open the scoring on Monday and will be the main target if Wales get the chance to put set-pieces into the box.
View the latest World Cup odds
All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication
