Mexico v Canada betting tips: Canada weakened by injury
Preview and odds for Friday’s Gold Cup match
The reigning champions are through to the last four of the CONCACAF Gold Cup and we take a look at some potential Mexico v Canada betting tips.
In the quarter-finals, 11-time Gold Cup winners Mexico knocked out Honduras while Canada defeated Costa Rica – and the pair now meet on Friday.
The semi-final takes place at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, and is live on Premier Sports 1 and kicks off at 3am BST.
Mexico v Canada match odds
Mexico are intent on retaining their Gold Cup title, which they regained after beating holders USA 1-0 in 2019.
They are bidding to win their fifth Gold Cup in the last seven editions following a 3-0 demolition of Honduras in the quarter final.
They are 4/7 to beat Canada and reach the final for the ninth time since 1993.
Should they win, the Mexico v Canada betting tips stats reveal that El Tri have lost only one of their last 11 appearances in the final, a 2-1 defeat by the United States in 2007.
Mexico started this tournament slowly, opening with a goalless draw with Trinidad and Tobago, but have looked better with every performance in beating Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.
The victory was again based on their solid defensive work. It was the eighth consecutive clean sheet in all competitions and Mexico are 19/20 to keep another in the semi-final.
The Mexicans will bid to reach the final and face another potential clash with the USA, where they will hope to avenge their heart-breaking 3-2 defeat in extra time in the Nations League final last month.
Prior to that, their sole loss in nine games came in a 1-0 reverse against Wales in Cardiff back in March.
Against Honduras, Rogelio Funes Mori, who made his international debut on July 3, scored his third goal of the tournament in the 26th minute – it was his fourth goal in five outings for his country.
Jonathan dos Santos added his fifth international goal in the 31st minute and Orbelin Pineda scored his fourth goal in the first half.
Mexico have lost just three games since Gerardo Martino began his tenure in January 2019 and they are 9/5 to win but concede against Canada.
The last time Canada qualified for the semi-finals of the Gold Cup was in 2007 but they beat an ageing Costa Rica side 2-0 to book their place in the semi-final. They are 5/1 to overcome Mexico in 90 minutes.
Canada lost to the United States in their last group game but apart from the first minute when the US scored, they were the better team throughout and will relish another crack at the Americans.
Junior Hoilett (pictured above) set Canada on their way in the quarter-final with a deft 18th-minute strike and Stephen Eustaquio put the game beyond doubt with a second in the 68th minute.
Canada have scored at least once in the first half in seven of their last nine games and are 12/5 to be the first team to score and 5/4 to either win or draw the game in 90 minutes on the Double Chance market.
Mexico v Canada head-to-head
Since 1957, the pair have met 33 times with Mexico winning 21 of those clashes.
They have drawn nine matches and a stalemate in the semi-final is available at 13/5 in the Mexico v Canada betting tips.
Mexico were unbeaten in their group games and then overcame Honduras in their quarter-final, all without conceding. It is 11/8 they beat Canada to nil.
Canada have managed one victory in their last 17 clashes with Mexico – that coming 21 years ago in the quarter-final of the Gold Cup.
They have lost the last four meetings and Mexico have scored multiple goals in those four clashes, the last of which came in the 2019 Gold Cup in their group game which saw El Tri win 3-1.
Five of the last six meetings have seen three or more goals scored in total and it is 23/20 this trend continues.
Team news
Having already lost Cyle Larin and Ayo Akinola to injury, Steven Vitoria took himself out of the semi-final with a yellow card accumulation following a 31st-minute caution.
While Canada put the rest of CONCACAF on notice that they’re going to be a force in World Cup qualifying, the biggest Mexico v Canada betting tips question is whether they can be a force in the semi-finals with key players missing.
Canada are 3/1 to win in 90 minutes on the Draw No Bet market and are 9/1 to win to nil.
Mexico will again be without Hirving Lozano although, for a squad that some said lacked a striker, Funes Mori has done his part to assure the nation’s presence in the Gold Cup semi-finals.
He looked sharp against Honduras and is 27/10 to score two or more goals.
Key Battles
Canada’s Stephen Eustaquio played a crucial role against Costa Rica, setting up Hoilett for the first goal and then adding one of his own.
He also was instrumental in controlling the middle of the park in partnership with John Kaye.
How well that pair hold up against a Mexico side that plays with plenty of width will be crucial to the Mexico v Canada betting tips outcome.
Canada have been in great form, scoring 41 goals in total in their last 10 games – winning nine – with a sole 1-0 loss to the United States in their final Group B game blotting their copybook.
How they cope without Larin, who scored three goals in the group phase, will be a key question.
Canada are 17/4 to grab two or more goals in 90 minutes and it is 11/1 they win but concede in normal time.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
