The 2022 World Cup kicks off Sunday with host country Qatar taking on Ecuador. These teams are the 51st and 46th ranked sides in the world based on the FIFA Men’s Rankings. As a result, expect a fairly even matchup which probably will be decided by one goal. Here are some valuable player props on No House Advantage, to make sure your World Cup gets off to a hot start.
No House Advantage World Cup Player Props: November 20
Almoez Ali (Qatar): Over 0.5 Shots on Goal
Almoez Ali getting a mere one shot on goal for Qatar seems surefire against Ecuador. Because Group A includes the Netherlands and Senegal, this is the most winnable match for either side. Despite Ecuador having kept six clean sheets in a row, it somehow won only two of those fixtures. In turn, expect Ecuador to open up a bit in hopes of trying to clinch an opening day victory.
This creates the perfect chance for Ali to get a shot on target, and better yet, score in front of his home faithful. The 25-year-old front man managed to score six goals in just eight Asian qualifying appearances, equating to 0.76 goals per 90 minutes. His 42 career goals for Qatar make him its best attacking option.
Plus, the host country has scored on opening day in the past four World Cups, a streak that includes South Africa and Russia. Qatar should score in this match, and Almoez Ali will surely be behind at least a shot on goal.
Akram Afif (Qatar): Over 0.5 Shots on Goal
Similarly, Akram Afif of Qatar also will reap the same benefits of his strike teammate. In fact, Afif has a better goal–scoring ratio than Ali, at 0.93 goals per 90 minutes. He started only four of Qatar’s qualifiers but was able to make himself a presence with seven goals.
Afif is a bit shifter than Ali, which can make him more successful at breaking through a stingy Ecuador back line. The 24-year-old also is Qatar’s spot kick taker. On Friday night, FIFA was warned about a spike in penalties awarded to Qatar in warmup matches, which spikes interest here.
Angel Mena (Ecuador): Over 0.5 Shots on Goal
Angel Mena also should put a shot on goal in this match. Mena might not be the most consistent scorer, but he loves to pull the trigger. He took 24 shots for Ecuador in World Cup qualifying, putting exactly 50% of them on frame. Additionally, when analyzing his minutes played, he is averaging exactly one shot on target per 90 minutes on the field, which would fulfill this pick.
Ecuador will surely have its chances. La Tri is the better side on paper and has a handful of players who could make a difference. Michael Estrada is also a solid shout here, but he gets only 36.4% of his shots on target. With that in mind, Mena is the best play for Ecuador in what should be an enthralling first game of the 2022 World Cup.
