It is not just South America that has their international tournament this summer, North America does too as the CONCACAF Gold Cup takes place in the USA, Jamaica and Costa Rica over the next month or so, beginning on Saturday night.
This is a big tournament for the hosts after they missed out on the World Cup last year and there will be plenty of attention on them. We can see how they go in their title defence with our own eyes as every match is live on Free Sports in the UK.
Recent Winners
2017 – USA
2015 – Mexico
2013 – USA
2011 – Mexico
2009 – Mexico
2007 – United States
2005 – United States
2003 – Mexico
2002 – USA
2000 – Canada
The Format
The tournament has been expanded from 12 teams to 16 for this renewal of the event and as such we have an extra group and a whole bunch more matches to take in and enjoy. The 16 nations have all been placed into four groups of four where everyone plays each other once in the first phase. Unlike some tournaments around the world this one is quite simple. The top two go through to the knockout stages and everyone else goes home.
The knockout part of the tournament will see extra time and penalties being played if the match finishes a draw after 90 minutes. Groups A+B form one half of the draw throughout the competition with C+D in the other side of things. The champions will be crowned in the final at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 7.
Group A
Mexico are the headline attraction in Group A. They are the tournament favourites and will be expected to come through this section quite comfortably. Canada are the team seeded to follow them through to the knockout stage. The 2000 champions will be hoping that the three MLS teams in the country can give them the firepower to go deep. Cuba and Martinique look like they will have to upset the odds if they are to play knockout football at any point.
Group B
Co-hosts Costa Rica have been given the top seeding in Group B and they will look to take advantage of their opening match being on home soil to progress as group winners. Haiti are rated as their main dangers and they will be looking to showcase their talents on this stage once again. Nicaragua and Bermuda will be looking to make a mockery of the world rankings and escape this group against the odds.
Group C
The tougher looking group of the four to call in terms of finding the group winner would appear to be Group C where Honduras are the top rated side but you sense they could be vulnerable to the co-hosts Jamaica who are showing signs of improvement once again. Jamaica have been beaten in the final of the last two Gold Cup’s and will be looking to go one better here. El Salvador and Curacao are the teams hoping to cause what would be a fairly big upset if they are to make it through it must be said.
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Group D
All eyes will be on the nation that hosts most of this tournament in the last of the four groups as this is the one in which the title defence of USA will commence. They will be heavy favourites to qualify with 2013 finalists Panama expected to follow them as they build on their maiden World Cup appearance last summer. Trinidad and Tobago ended the hopes of the United States in qualifying for the World Cup last year and they will be out to cause another upset here with Guyana the other team in this group.
Betting
As ever in this tournament, the outright betting market centres around two sides but I’m not convinced it is as straightforward as that this year because the United States look a right mess at the present time. It will take something quite extraordinary to stop Mexico in this competition but I can’t say I’m too enthused at having my cash tied up for a month on an 11/8 shot. I’m going to take on the USA in the other half of the draw.
Panama are the improving side in this part of the world. While they were exposed for inexperience in Russia last year we shouldn’t forget the achievement they delivered in just getting there and much of that squad is here for a tilt at this title. With a number of their players having good MLS experience and a few others dotted around at eye catching clubs they should go well here. They have selected some tough matches to warm up for the tournament with, taking on Uruguay, Colombia and Brazil in friendlies in 2019. Although they lost the first two they drew with Brazil, almost not a full strength Brazilian team. The level of opponent here will be nothing like as strong so at 14/1 there is plenty of each way mileage on them.
Tips
Back Panama to win Gold Cup 2019 (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 15.00 with Boylesports (1/3 1-2)
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