It’s been quite some time since Welshmen have been able to cheer on their own team at a World Cup (you have to go back to 1958 for the last occasion, since which the world has changed rather a lot). Now that they’ve squeaked into the tournament in a narrow and dramatic fashion, could Wales top their group and get into the knockout stages?
Beautiful 😍 #TogetherStronger https://t.co/lMnbmfuXap
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 15, 2022
The Other Group Sides
It can’t be avoided. Wales’ biggest foes on the pitch will be, both emotionally and in terms of being the sternest test, England. Unfortunately for the Welsh, these days England rank among the favourites to win the whole tournament thanks to impressive performances at the last two major international tournaments (finishing top four in both). One thing can be certain, beating England will be very, very hard, but if it happens expect a small earthquake of cheers to rock Wales. Away from the desperate hope, winning the group requires, almost certainly, beating England. It’s not impossible, but the side has become consistent and impressive over recent years and this will be the biggest hurdle Wales faces.
The other two teams are much more beatable and offer significant hope for Wales to escape the group, whether they top it or finish as runner-up. The USA are ranked 15th, only three places above Wales, while Iran are ranked 21st, three places below. On those figures (if you believe the rankings accurately reflect talent) the three sides should be very closely matched. It’s also the case that Wales has already faced some stern competition just to reach the World Cup which may well stand them in good stead.
Odds vary depending on which sportsbook/betting exchange you look at, but England are clear favourites to win the group at around 1.3 or so. However, second on the list varies between Wales and the United States with around 6 to 8 for the USA, and 5.5 to 7 for Wales, indicating the markets are finding it hard to decide who is likelier to finish ahead. When it comes to escaping the group, the USA and Wales are both around evens.
Betting on Success
Football betting is the biggest sports wagering market in Europe thanks to the predominance of the beautiful game across the continent. It does have a couple of drawbacks though, including the inevitable off-season and the potential for fans letting their heart rule their head. When football’s not on, a great…
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