Quarterfinals: Mexico vs. Costa Rica Preview and Free Picks

The quarterfinals of the Gold Cup pit Mexico against Costa Rica, to qualify for the next stage of the competition organized by CONCACAF. 

The Tri comes into this match after topping Group B, with six points in three matches. But the demands are high, especially after losing 1-0 to Qatar.

The Ticos finished second in Group C, thanks to a 6-4 win over Martinique in the last match, which took them to four points.

When:

Saturday, July 8 at 9:30 pm ET at the QTL stadium

Moneyline odds:

Mexico -277 

Costa Rica +700

Draw Offs:

+375

Where Can I Watch?

Fox Sports 1, TUDN USA, Univision, and ViX

Why Bet on Mexico?

The Mexican National Team is one of the most under pressure in the Gold Cup. They reached the quarterfinals after winning two out of three matches in the group stage, leaving behind countries such as Honduras and Haiti, thanks to the work of the players led by interim coach Jaime Lozano.

However, in their last match, Mexico lost 1-0 to Qatar, so they are expected to improve their level in the next game. The Tri scored seven goals and conceded two, being in the top 5 of the best defenses in the competition. In addition, strikers Henry Martin and Santiago Giménez have already opened their scoring quotas.

The Aztec team is on a streak of at least eight Gold Cups reaching the semifinals, but since the World Cup it has been experiencing an irregular moment, winning six games, drawing four, and losing three, which cost the departure of Argentine coaches Gerardo “El Tata” Martino and Diego Cocca. For the match against Costa Rica, they will have right-back Jorge Sánchez, who was suspended.

Why Bet on Costa Rica?

The Costa Rican National Team has been going through a crisis for several months and qualifying to the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup has not been enough to calm the fans and the press, who are calling for the departure of coach Luis Fernando Suárez.

In its last match, the team beat Martinique 6-4, however, it was on a five-game winless streak, losing four of them. Before the six goals scored against the Caribbean team, the Costa Ricans had only scored seven in their most recent nine matches. In addition, they had conceded 19.

The Ticos face Mexico with the mission of returning to a Gold Cup semifinal, something that has not happened since 2017, but to achieve this goal they will be without striker Carlos Mora, who was injured in the group stage.

Final Betting Analysis: Mexico vs. Costa Rica

The Gold Cup presents an attractive duel, but one that brings together two teams that are under pressure. Mexico cannot afford to fail, as they had a very bad 2022 World Cup and CONCACAF Nations League, but the fact that they have an interim coach seems to have given them a new lease of life and that is why they are favorites in this match against a weak Costa Rica.

The numbers at MyBookie.ag have Mexico as the favorite, as the Moneyline for them shows -277, meanwhile Costa Rica has +700 and the draw is +375.

The last duel between El Tri and Los Ticos took place in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers and ended 0-0 on Mexican territory. However, the Manitos have great paternity over the Sele, with whom they have not lost since October 15, 2013. In fact, of the last 10 matches they have played, they have won in seven, and in the most recent four, they have not even conceded a goal.

The Costa Ricans come into this match with a notable defensive deficiency. They have started six of their last eight matches losing. We go for Mexico this time and believe a 3-1 is the most plausible result.

Go for a straight win for Mexico in the Moneyline. If you bet $100 at -277, you will gain $36 for a total payout of $136.