The World Cup knockout rounds begin with a clash between the Netherlands and the United States on Saturday.
The pregame narrative: Both teams went unbeaten through the group stage but the Dutch had slightly better results. The Netherlands picked up two wins and a draw while the U.S. had two draws and a win.
Check out our best Netherlands vs. United States World Cup picks for the December 3 match.
Odds as of 5:04 p.m. ET on 12/1/2022.
Netherlands vs. United States World Cup picks
Best Bet : Netherlands to win in regulation (-103)
The Netherlands is carrying an 18-game unbeaten streak into this match and should extend that on Saturday.
On the surface level, it looks like the Orange cruised through the group stage but that wasn’t really the case.
The Dutch battled through adversity in their opener, eventually breaking a deadlock against Senegal in the 84th minute. They went on to win that game before a nail-biting defensive performance against Ecuador helped the Netherlands secure a draw in its second World Cup group stage match.
Then the Dutch played Qatar and turned in a dominant showing on both ends, serving as a reminder of how good this team is. The Dutch had 63% of possession, scored two goals and had another waved off.
The Americans played well in their final match against Iran but barely managed to maintain a possession advantage (51-49). Gregg Berhalter’s passive tactics and the surprising absence of Gio Reyna also raise red flags.
The United States’ toughest competition in CONCACAF was Canada and Mexico, both of whom were bounced in the group stage. The Americans played tune-up games in September against Japan and Saudi Arabia, which they lost and tied.
On the other hand, the Netherlands rolled through teams like Belgium, Poland and Wales in the UEFA Nations League, the latter of which the U.S. drew.
Playing high-level competition frequently should help the Dutch heading into this game. It also helps that Memphis Depay — the Netherlands’ striker — is fully fit.
Key stat: The Netherlands is 8-3-0 in 2022 with a plus-14 goal differential.
Quick picks
Under 2.5 goals (-162): If you’re looking to see the scoreboard lit up, this probably isn’t the match to watch. All six of the group games played by the Netherlands and United States went under this number and that trend should continue on Saturday.
The Dutch conceded just one goal in the group stage while the United States allowed two with only one coming from open play.
Both teams to score — no (-136): To our American readers, we’re sorry, but this is directed at the Red, White and Blue. The United States scored one goal against Iran and Wales but neither of those teams is renowned for defensive prowess.
When tasked with cracking England’s defence, the U.S. managed just one shot on target.
The Netherlands is similar to England in skill level and has allowed just one goal in its last five games.
Disclaimer This content was produced as part of a partnership and therefore it may not meet the standards of impartial or independent journalism.
