Wales defied expectations to reach their first World Cup since 1958 but that doesn't mean The Dragons can't make an impact in Qatar. If Rob Page's side can pick up three points from their opening Group B game against USA on Monday evening then they might only need one more point to earn qualification for the knockout stages.
And it's a game Wales can very definitely win. USA are 6/4 favourites with Betfred but Wales are not a great deal bigger at 2/1 which helps to create the feeling that this opening fixture can go either way. It has the potential to define both teams' tournament so the stakes could hardly be higher.
Although it will still be very warm, it is undoubtedly a help to both sides that this game takes place at 10pm local time so conditions shouldn't be overly influential on a game that promises to be a nervy affair for both sets of fans.
Welsh prospects would increase were rising young stars like Harry Wilson, Neco Williams and Brennan Johnson to step up and play a leading role alongside Gareth Bale, who has been the beating heart of this team for many years now. The likes of Ben Davies, Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsey all remain influential figures in the side, but there is an opportunity for one of the younger brigade to elevate themselves to stardom in this tournament.
Bale scored all three of Wales' play-off goals that got them to Qatar and it is no surprise that he is just 7/4 to end the tournament as his nation's top scorer. The now Los Angeles FC man is Wales' all-time top scorer with 40 goals from 108 international appearances and is 9/2 with Betfred to open the scoring in the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, while 2/1 to score any time. Both will surely make huge appeal for anyone looking to get involved in this game financially.
USA head to Qatar with one of the youngest squads in the tournament after Gregg Berhalter was brought in to overhaul the squad on the back of failure to qualify for the 2018 tournament - the first time USA have not made the finals since 1986.
Despite plenty of top-flight European talent in the ranks, USA are struggling in front of goal. They scored just 21 in 14 qualifying matches and didn't manage a goal in either of two September friendlies against Japan and Saudia Arabia.
USA vs Wales Prediction
Both Teams to Score backers should be wary of this one because only 29% of USA's competitive games since 2018 have resulted in both teams finding the net. That goes a long way to explainging why Both Teams to Score (NO) is a warm favourite at 4/6.
However, the injury to centre-back Miles Robinson is an issue for a USA side that can definitely be got at. They failed to win half of their qualifying games (W7 D4 L3) and look vulnerable if Wales can hit the ground running.
A Wales win at 2/1 rates an appealing wager but we can improve those odds to 7/2 by backing The Dragons to win to nil, which is a distinct possibility.
Wales vs USA prediction: Wales to win to nil - 7/2
USA vs Wales Odds with Betfred
- USA - 6/4
- Draw - 19/10
- Wales - 2/1
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