IT’S hard to get excited about the CONCACAF Gold Cup, even when it’s filling a gaping void in the football calendar.
Mention the federation to most football fans and it’s disturbing images of Chuck Blazer and Jack Warner rolling around naked in piles of used dollar bills that
immediately spring to mind.
With most of the Gold Cup games kicking off in the wee small hours, it’s only football obsessives,
insomniacs and a smattering of ex-pats who are tuning in over here to watch the action live.
And any drunks channel surfing on the sofa after stumbling home from the pubs and clubs tonight probably won’t be enticed by the
prospect of watching Trinidad and Tobago take on St Kitts.
The main problem for the tournament is the gulf in quality between the top four sides – America, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica – and the other nations taking part.
Things only usually get interesting when we reach the semi-final stage but the field has been levelled a bit this year with the big guns leaving most of their stars out of the squads.
That’s largely down to the CONCACAF Nations League Finals being held just a week ago, with the USA spanking Mexico 3-0 in the semis before beating Canada 2-0 in the showpiece.
Quite why they scheduled the two tournaments so close together remains a mystery, although it’s comforting to know the spirit of Blazer and Warner lives on in the shambolic administration.
Despite being co-hosts for the Gold Cup, both the Americans and Canadians have named pretty much shadow squads, with the likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKimmie, Gio Reyna, Alistair Johnston and Jonathan David sitting it out.
Mexico have kept the same squad from the Nations League but they’re still without injured European-based stars Hirving Lozano and Jesus Manuel Corona.
And their dismal display against the Yanks last week saw gaffer Diego Cocca get his jotters, with Jaime Lozano installed as caretaker boss for the Gold Cup.
Despite all that upheaval they are favourites to lift the trophy at 7/4 with Bet365, who price the USA at 2/1 and Canada at 6/1.
Those odds aren’t too surprising given the Mexicans and America have dominated things since the Gold Cup started in 1991, winning all but one of the 16 tournaments.
But with weakened squads, we could see a shock and punters may fancy a flutter on the likes of Costa Rica (8/1), Panama (9/1), Qatar (14/1) and Jamaica (16/1).
I’m going to take an each-way punt on the Reggae Boyz as they have bucked the trend by calling up Premier League stars Michail Antonio, Demarai Gray, Leon Bailey, Bobby Decorva-Reid and Ethan Pinnock.
There’s an early acid test tomorrow morning as they kick off Group A against the USA.
The Jamaicans head into the tournament in dismal form, having gone nine games without a win.
But most of those matches have been tough assignments, with Mexico, Argentina and Cameroon among their opponents.
The only team to have been beaten them by more than a one-goal margin are the world Champions so it could be a tricky opener for the co-hosts.
But McBookie make Jamaica 7/2 outsiders with the Americans 4/6 favourites and the draw at 11/4.
I can see Jamaica scoring so BTTS appeals at 19/20 with Bet365 while over 2.5 goals is the same price. Antonio could get some joy against an inexperienced USA defence and the West Ham star is 12/5 at McBookie to score.
Qatar reached the semi-finals at the last Gold Cup as guests and only lost 1-0 to the USA.
They’re back for another crack at CONCACAF glory and might ruffle a few feathers again, although they’re in the toughest section with Mexico, Honduras and Haiti.
Qatar kick off Group B tomorrow night with a game against Haiti and look good value at 11/10 with Bet365 for a win.
Haiti have been scoring for fun in the Nations League but those matches against the likes of Montserrat, Bermuda and Guyana are the equivalent of warming up for a week-long bender with Oliver Reed by going for a night out with Cliff Richard.
The other game this weekend is the thriller between Trinidad and Tobago and St Kitts. T&T have conceded just once in six games so I’m backing them to win to nil at 13/8 (Bet365).
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