Tuesday’s early kick off in the Fifa World Cup Round of 32 comes from Monterrey where the Netherlands clash with Morocco
Netherlands
The Netherlands topped a high scoring Group F unbeaten with 2 wins and 1 draw. They finished 2 points clear of runners up Japan, Sweden in third with 4 points also went through and Tunisia lost all 3 of their matches and were eliminated.
The Netherlands final group match came against Tunisia in Kansas City on Friday and they ran out comfortable winners, 3-1. An early own goal and another from Brian Brobbey had the Dutch 2-0 up in just 7 minutes. It stayed that way until early in the second half when Tunisia pulled a goal back but Jan Paul van Hecke restored the 2 goal advantage and there was no further scoring.
Earlier the Netherlands had kick started their tournament in some style when they dismantled Sweden with a 5-1 win in Houston. Brian Brobbey had them 2-0 up early on, Cody Gakpo then scored twice early in the second half and after Sweden netted a consolation Summerville made it 5-1 in the closing moments.
The Netherlands opened their campaign with a 2-2 draw with Japan in Dallas. The first half went without a goal and van Djik headed the Dutch in front on 51 minutes. Japan were level just 6 minutes later but on 64 minutes Summerville made it 2-1. It looked like the Netherlands had done enough but Japan came back again, making it 2-2 on 89 minutes and that’s the way it finished.
Morocco
Morocco cam through Group C as runners up to Brazil on goal difference. Both those sides won 2 and drew 1 of their matches whilst Scotland were third with 3 points but didn’t make the cut and Haiti lost all of their games.
Morocco saw off a spirited effort from an already eliminated Haiti in their final group match in Atlanta last Wednesday. They were behind twice bit goals from Achraf Hakimi, Ismael Saibar (who found the net in every group match), Soufiane Rahimi and finally Gessime Yassine saw them turn things around.
Morocco had pretty much assured themselves of a place in the knockout rounds when they edged out Scotland 1-0 in Boston in their second group match where Ismael Saibari needed just 70 seconds to come up with the decisive goal.
New Jersey was the venue for Morocco’s opening match against Brazil, they came flying out of the blocks and took a first half lead through Saibari. However it was 1-1 by half time and that’s the way it finished.
The Betting (Regulation time unless stated otherwise)
The Netherlands are priced at around 11/10 to win the game with the draw available at 22/10 and Morocco can be backed at around 27/10.
A game of 3 goals or more is priced at 23/20 and its 10/11 for both teams to score
Netherlands to win and both teams to score? Yes is priced at 7/2
Brobbey to score is 2.15/1 and Saibari is 2.95/1
A 1-1 draw is priced at 52/10
The Verdict:
There was plenty to like about both these sides in the group stage, strikers for each side Brobbey and Saibari both have 3 goals and I reckon this should be a decent contest which could well go beyond regulation time before it is settled.
Bets: Match result draw at 22/10 with Betway
Note, odds are subject to change