CONCACAF Gold Cup

[Napoleon Solo]

Already played the first two games in this, both in Group A.

Canada beating Jamaica, while El Salvador, perhaps not as suprising as you may think, beat Costa Rica.

Group B starts tonight, while Group C begins tomorrow.

Group B
05/07 00:00 Honduras v Haiti 1.38 5.50 11.00
05/07 02:00 Grenada v USA 26.00 10.90 1.11

Group C
05/07 Panama v Guadeloupe 1.88 3.55 4.62
06/07 Nicaracgua v Mexico 27.73 9.42 1.12

Honduras come into the tournament with a weakened team, but should still have enough for Haiti, who are only at the tournament as Cuba pulled out. Cuba finished ahead of Haiti in the central American qualifying tournament, but felt they couldn't provide a competitive squad for the Gold Cup. God knows what that says about Haiti's squad.

USA are also bringing a depleted squad, without a lot of the players who came so close to winning the Confederations cup. They should still have enough to beat the majority of the teams here though, especially as the tournament is once again being held in the US.

Nicaragua should provide no real threat in the group, even to a Mexican side who have left a lot of their big name Mexican based players at home. The Mexicans have brought a squad full of younger players (including Giovanni Dos Santos and Carlos Vela), with a few more experienced European based players (Omar Bravo, Gerado Torrado).

Which brings me onto Panama v Guadeloupe, and the second bet I'm placing on this tournament following the bet I placed last night but didn't find time to post .

Panama have a strong line-up and won the UNCAF Nations cup in February, beating Costa Rica and Honduras along the way, but they were severley weakened teams as clubs weren't forced to release their players from the tournament as it wasn't within the agreed International calender. They may still do alright though with their experienced squad.

Guadeloupe came third in the recent Caribbean championships, going down to a strong Jamaica side in the quarter finals. They've got a strong squad made up of mainly french-based professional players and should do well here. They proved in 2007 that they can mix it with the best of the CONCACAF teams, only going down 1-0 to a strong Mexican side in the semi-finals. They're not an officially recognised FIFA nation, so don't enter qualification for World Cups, which is perhaps why they're being underestimated here.

Guadeloupe to beat Panama @ 4.50 (Ladbrokes, Eurobet, Centrebet, BWin) - 3 points

[Vercingetorixxx]

Charlie Davies, Freddy Adu, Heath Pearce, and Luis Robles were the initial selections for this Gold Cup, from the team who reached the Confederations Cup final.
But, coach Bradley also decided to call Altidore, Conor Casey, Ricardo Clark, Benny Feilhaber and Sacha Kljestan, Jonathan Bornstein and Brad Guzan, because FIFA is allowing the team to call another 7 players besides the initial squad.
Also Hannovra's defender Steve Cherundolo is in the squad, coming back from an injury, and I think USA have a pretty decent rooster to choose from. In my opinion, they are hot favorites to win this tournament, the only threat coming from Mexico who, under new coach Aguirre guidance, are showing signs of improvement.

[maren]

tks for the info on Guadeloupe to beat Panama @ 4.50 (Ladbrokes, Eurobet, Centrebet, BWin) - 3 points .. made some gd $$$$ .. tks alot ..

gd luck ..


maren

[traeth]

Originally Posted by Napoleon Solo

Guadeloupe to beat Panama @ 4.50 (Ladbrokes, Eurobet, Centrebet, BWin) - 3 points

great call nap , i took guadeloupe +0.5 , thanks for that

[Napoleon Solo]

No worries guys!

08/07 00:00 Jamaica v Costa Rica 3.88 3.69 2.00
08/07 02:00 El Salvador v Canada 3.20 3.28 2.50
09/07 00:00 Haiti v Grenada1.86 3.46 4.90
09/07 02:00 USA v Honduras 1.42 4.75 9.00
10/07 00:00 Guadeloupe v Nicaragua 1.91 3.31 4.20
10/07 02:00 Mexico v Panama 1.37 4.75 9.00

[slick]

Aye cracking shout NS, well done m8. I've never even heard of Guadeloupe tell the truth, sounds like some sort of Animal you'd find in Africa.

[ONEDUNME]

I thought it was something that looked like a melon

[Napoleon Solo]

Jamaica v Costa Rica 3.88 3.69 2.00
El Salvador v Canada 3.20 3.28 2.50

Jamaica v Costa Rica doesn't really interest me here, Jamaica were quite poor against Canada, while Costa Rica can be a bit hit-and-miss away from the confines of their national stadium, especially with their missing players.

El Salvador do interest me against Canada. I had a bet on them beating the Ticos in the first round, and I think they can do the same against Canada. El Salvador produced some great attacking play against Costa Rica and a can do so against a Canadian team that are perhaps a class below them. Canada came out on top against Jamaica thanks to a resolute defensive display, but their attacking play is a little blunt at the moment, especially with star player Dwayne De Rosario missing.

El Salvador to beat Canada @ 3.20 (William Hill) - 2 points


Haiti v Grenada1.86 3.46 4.90
USA v Honduras 1.42 4.75 9.00

Haiti controlled large chunks of the game against Honduras, but were undone by a silly free-kick given away near their corner flag. The Hondurans didn't look anywhere near as good as they can be, either as they're missing four of their best players or because of the distraction of the political situation back home. In the other game, the USA, made up of mainly MLS players completely outplayed the minnows from Grenada.

I think Grenada may be being slightly underrated here. They were trounced by a decent young USA side, but this is a game they'll have their best chance of winning. I am quite tempted by a bet on Grenada here.

USA have never lost a Gold Cup game on US soil and the way Honduras played in their first game they really shouldn't have any problems here. However, if Honduras can play to their potential they could have a chance against a young American side.


Guadeloupe v Nicaragua 1.86 3.31 4.20
Mexico v Panama 1.37 4.75 9.00

I'm all over this Guadeloupe price, they played really well against Panama and deservedly came away with the victory. Nicaragua did very little but defend in their defeat to Mexico. If they do that against Guadeloupe, they'll eventually be picked apart. Even if Nicaragua think they have a chance against Guadeloupe and try and play, Guadeloupe should have far too much class.

Guadeloupe to beat Nicaragua @ 1.86 (Sportbet) - 4 points
Guadeloupe -1 EH @ 3.60 (Bet365) - 1 point

Mexico should have the beating of Panama in the final second round game.

[Napoleon Solo]

Haiti v Grenada1.86 3.46 4.90

Haiti are now best priced 1.70 for this match, while Grenada are best priced 6.15. There's absoloutly no way Grenada should be that big against Haiti.

Haiti's dominance against Honduras was more to do with how bad Honduras were, rather than how good the Haitians were. This was a Haiti side that finished third in their group at the caribbean championships, behind Guadeloupe and Cuba, while Grenada were the tournament runners-up, having beaten "Trinidad and Tobago" and Cuba along the way. Grenada were totally outplayed by the USA in their first game, but the USA have great squad depth, possibly better than they've ever had, and are probably much better than most of these teams, even playing their second string.

Grenada to beat Haiti @ 6.15 (Pinnacle) - 1 point

[traeth]

hi nap ,
you've persuaded me to invest some of my earlier winnings [thanks to you] on Haiti DNB @ 4.0 ,thanks for the info

[rcgills]

Take it you mean Grenada, Traeth, not Haiti?

Anyway, gone for the same bet myself, fingers crossed

[traeth]

Originally Posted by rcgills

Take it you mean Grenada, Traeth, not Haiti?

Anyway, gone for the same bet myself, fingers crossed

you are correct , bit of a DOH! moment

I'm on Grenada , c'mon boys

[CPFC]

Cheating voodoo bastards !!!

[Dougie9]

i think im going to get involved here with a Guadeloupe and mexico double? odds well down now only getting 1.57 on Guadeloupe and 1.4 on mexico

[menake]

Hi ,my predictions.USA wins Panama,Mexico wins Haiti,but i'm stuck with the canada versus honduras and also guadeloupe versus cosatarica.i favour canada and guadeloupe but cant be sure.can u guys help?menake