Graham Ruthven: Something for the weekend

Netherlands v USA – Under 1.5 Total Goals

There are only a handful of unbeaten teams left at the 2022 World Cup and the Netherlands and the USA are two of them. Louis Van Gaal’s team have struggled for an identity at the tournament with the attacking threat of Cody Gakpo masking many of their problems. Can they continue to count on Gakpo to deliver in every match?

The USA have earned a reputation for being defensively solid. They have conceded just one goal in three games with that one goal coming from the penalty spot. Gregg Berhalter could set up his team to control the midfield through Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah with Christian Pulisic and Timothy Weah important in quick transition.

If the USA can stop Gakpo from getting in between the lines, they could eliminate the Netherlands’ attacking threat entirely. On the other hand, the USA haven’t scored more than a single goal in a game at the 2022 World Cup so far. This one could be a low-scoring affair with so much on the line.

England v Senegal – Harry Kane To Score

England have played three matches at the 2022 World Cup yet Harry Kane has still to score. The 29-year-old was instrumental in the 6-2 victory over Iran, but suffered an ankle knock and has been an injury concern since. However, Kane is still getting into goal-scoring positions and is a good bet to find the back of the net against Senegal.

Kane was fit enough to play an hour of the 3-0 win over Wales and is expected to start again in the round of 16. England will need their captain to be in top form to play through the Senegalese low defensive block – his ability to drop deep could be the thing that keeps the Three Lions fluid in the attacking third.

France v Poland – Half Time Draw

France will kick off Sunday’s round of 16 match against Poland as heavy favourites to make the quarter-finals, but there’s reason to believe Czeslaw Michniewicz’s team will succeed in spoiling the game to a certain extent. Indeed, Poland are in the last 16 through their ability to grind out results.

Despite playing well within themselves in Qatar, Poland have conceded just two goals in three games. Robert Lewandowski gives them a goal-scoring threat up front, but Michniewicz has placed his faith in a conservative, defensive approach to get the best out of Poland’s player pool as a whole.

Four of the six goals France have scored at the 2022 World Cup have come in the second half. Les Blues might well have the attacking quality to ultimately break through Poland, but Michniewicz’s have been drawing at half time of every match they have played so far during the tournament.