Mexico v Canada betting tips: Holders favourites for Gold Cup final place
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Mexico v Canada betting tips and odds
Defending champions Mexico are 4/7 to reach a record-extending 14th Gold Cup final inside 90 minutes in Friday’s clash with Canada who are competing in the last four for the first time in 14 years.
Mexico, 11/10 favourites for a 12th Gold Cup crown, beat depleted Honduras 3-0 in the quarter-finals while Canada ran out 2-0 winners against Costa Rica.
El Tri have an excellent recent record against their semi-final opponents so let’s examine some of the markets and odds in our Mexico v Canada betting tips.
Match Odds
Mexico are the only nation yet to concede a goal at the Gold Cup and are 27/20 to win to nil for the fourth time in five games.
Gerardo Martino brought a strong squad to the United States but despite the loss of Hirving Lozano with a head injury sustained against Trinidad & Tobago in their group opener, it has been relatively plain sailing for the holders.
Mexico crushed Guatemala 3-0 and edged out El Salvador 1-0 to reach the last eight as group winners and three first-half goals proved enough to beat a Honduras team ravaged by injuries and Covid protocols.
Canada won both of their opening group games 4-1 against Martinique and Haiti and were unlucky to lose 1-0 to USA but reached the last four with a deserved 2-0 victory against Costa Rica, who failed to register a shot on target.
Mexico beat Canada 3-1 in the group stage two years ago and won the previous three encounters to nil by at least two goals, so we go 17/10 on the favourites to win by at least a two-goal margin or 9/2 by three.
They can also be backed at 21/20 to win and over 1.5 goals which has been the case in their last four clashes with Canada, who have not beaten Mexico in their last nine meetings.
Their last victory came at the 2000 Gold Cup which they went on to win, so they look hard to back at 19/4, especially as they are without suspended captain Steven Vitoria and striker Lucas Cavallini.
However, a draw does not look beyond them at 12/5 and reasonably early goals have played a key part in their four matches.
John Herdman’s side are 7/2 to score the first goal in the opening 45 minutes while Mexico are 11/10 in the same market.
Talking Tactics
Junior Hoilett is without a club after being released by Cardiff at the end of the season but his Gold Cup performances have reportedly alerted the likes of Reading and Middlesbrough.
The former Blackburn and QPR winger played in a forward role on the right in a 3-4-3 formation against Costa Rica, scoring the opening goal to make it two for the tournament.
Martino has preferred a 4-3-3 formation throughout the Gold Cup with Rogelio Funes Mori flanked by Jesus Manuel Corona and Orbelin Pineda against El Salvador, bolstered by Hector Herrera and Jonathan dos Santos in a strong midfield.
Goalscorer Odds
Funes Mori has three goals at this year’s Gold Cup and is understandably the 3/1 favourite to bag the opening goal, as he has done twice thus far, or 6/5 to get on the scoresheet while Dos Santos is 10/1 and 4/1 in the same markets having netted the second goal against Honduras.
Pineda was also on target in the same game and is 7/1 to break the deadlock or 14/5 to score.
For Canada, Hoilett is 11/1 and 9/2 in the same markets and with Cavallini out of the semi-final, Tesho Akindele and Tyler Pasher are the 10/1 favourites to get the opener and 4/1 to score any time.
Match Info
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston
When: 03:00, Friday 30th July
How to watch: Premier Sports
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
