BOYLE Sports
·
Staff
Croatia and Mexico have both impressed so far, but who will hold their nerve in what is effectively a knockout game.
Form
Croatia bounced back from the perceived injustice of losing their opening game to Brazil with an impressive 4-0 victory over Cameroon in their second group game last Wednesday night. Mario Mandzukic marked his return from suspension with a brace, adding to Ivica Olic’s opener and Ivan Perisic’s goal just after half time.
The Blazers have lost just one game - against Brazil - since Niko Kovač took charge of the first team, while the win over Cameroon was their biggest ever at a World Cup finals. Mandzukic now has three goals in his last two appearances for his country.
Mexico began the campaign with a facile win over Cameroon in a game where they had two perfectly good goals disallowed for infringements but still emerged as 1-0 victors. They then battled impressively to a goalless draw with Brazil and despite goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa getting all the plaudits they were worthy of their point.
El Tri have now kept consecutive clean sheets at the World Cup and have only once conceded more than a single goal in a game in their last nine matches.
Team News
Jozy Altidore is still awaiting the results of an MRI scan, but it looks as though the Sunderland striker’s World Cup is over after pulling up with a hamstring strain on 23 minutes of the game against Ghana. Matt Besler is expected to be fit, however, despite also being substituted at half-time in the game with a hamstring injury.
Pepe is suspended while Hugo Almeida and Fábio Coentrão are set to miss the remainder of the group stages at least due to injury. But the biggest setback to Paulo Bento’s plans could be the fitness of star player Cristiano Ronaldo who again limped out of training during the week with his knee heavily strapped. Some reports suggest that the team doctor has told him he could risk his career by continuing to play through the pain barrier.
Head-to-Head
Head-to-head results are balanced evenly with two wins and one draw apiece. The most recent and most significant meeting came in the 2002 World Cup - where Paulo Bento was a second-half substitute - which USA won 3-2 having taken a 3-0 lead inside 36 minutes.
Recommended Bets
Given the significant injury/suspension problems hampering this Portuguese side, and the fact that confidence must be at a real low after the Germany game, we simply have to take them on at odds of 4/5 in the Match Odds market.
Form
Croatia bounced back from the perceived injustice of losing their opening game to Brazil with an impressive 4-0 victory over Cameroon in their second group game last Wednesday night. Mario Mandzukic marked his return from suspension with a brace, adding to Ivica Olic’s opener and Ivan Perisic’s goal just after half time.
The Blazers have lost just one game - against Brazil - since Niko Kovač took charge of the first team, while the win over Cameroon was their biggest ever at a World Cup finals. Mandzukic now has three goals in his last two appearances for his country.
Mexico began the campaign with a facile win over Cameroon in a game where they had two perfectly good goals disallowed for infringements but still emerged as 1-0 victors. They then battled impressively to a goalless draw with Brazil and despite goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa getting all the plaudits they were worthy of their point.
El Tri have now kept consecutive clean sheets at the World Cup and have only once conceded more than a single goal in a game in their last nine matches.
Team News
Jozy Altidore is still awaiting the results of an MRI scan, but it looks as though the Sunderland striker’s World Cup is over after pulling up with a hamstring strain on 23 minutes of the game against Ghana. Matt Besler is expected to be fit, however, despite also being substituted at half-time in the game with a hamstring injury.
Pepe is suspended while Hugo Almeida and Fábio Coentrão are set to miss the remainder of the group stages at least due to injury. But the biggest setback to Paulo Bento’s plans could be the fitness of star player Cristiano Ronaldo who again limped out of training during the week with his knee heavily strapped. Some reports suggest that the team doctor has told him he could risk his career by continuing to play through the pain barrier.
Head-to-Head
Head-to-head results are balanced evenly with two wins and one draw apiece. The most recent and most significant meeting came in the 2002 World Cup - where Paulo Bento was a second-half substitute - which USA won 3-2 having taken a 3-0 lead inside 36 minutes.
Recommended Bets
Given the significant injury/suspension problems hampering this Portuguese side, and the fact that confidence must be at a real low after the Germany game, we simply have to take them on at odds of 4/5 in the Match Odds market.
USA look an outstanding bet at odds of 4/1, with the Draw No Bet option at odds of 2/1 offering some insurance.""
BOYLE Sports
·
Staff
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