Football
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    Mexico vs Canada: Defending champions will run the Canucks ragged

    Seb SternikSeb Sternik29 July 2021
    Mexico midfielder Jonathan Dos Santos (6) celebrates with fans and teammates after scoring a goal in action during the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals match between Mexico and Honduras

    Mexico midfielder Jonathan Dos Santos (6) celebrates with fans and teammates after scoring a goal in action during the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals match between Mexico and Honduras

    Mexico will be looking to take another big step towards defending their Gold Cup crown when they take on Canada in the semi-final.

    When: Friday, July 20, 03:00am BST

    Where: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

    How to watch: Premier Sports

    Follow this game live via our score centre

    Best bets

    Mexico to win the first half at 23/20

    Half-Time/Full-Time Mexico/Mexico at 7/5

    Over 2.5 goals at 11/10

    Mexico entered this year's Gold Cup as the outright favourites and as things stand, they are delivering on expectations.

    Gerardo Martino's men finished top of their group before destroying Honduras 3-0 in the quarter-final.
    The Tricolor are targeting a historic 12th Gold Cup title and should they succeed, it will be their fifth crown in seven tournaments.
    Standing in their way though is a promising Canadian outfit. John Herdman's side won their opening two games of the tournament, scoring eight goals in the process.

    Despite a defeat to the United States in their final group encounter, the team progressed to the quarter-finals and came away 2-0 winners over Costa Rica.

    Mexico will provide an entirely different challenge for the Canucks and questions remain over their ability to get results in big games.

    The bookies are backing Mexico in this one and we're with them. The Tricolor are currently well priced at 7/5 in the half-time/full-time market.

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    What's more, this bet landed in three of Mexico's last four games. 

    Mexico's journey to the semi-final

    Group Stage

    Mexico 0-0 Trinidad and Tobago
    Guatemala 0-3 Mexico
    Mexico 1-0 El Salvador

    Quarter-final

    Mexico 3-0 Honduras

    Canada's journey to the semi-final

    Group Stage

    Canada 4-1 Martinique
    Haiti 1-4 Canada
    United States 1-0 Canada

    Quarter-final

    Costa Rica 0-2 Canada

    Mexico have head-to-head edge

    Mexico have won four straight games against the Canadians - scoring ten goals, conceding once and producing three clean sheets.
    Clearly this Mexican outfit have a formula for the Canadians which has worked wonders over the years.

    The 4-3-3 formation has allowed Mexico to play with a ruthless attacking edge. One man who has certainly benefited from this system is Rogelio Funes Mori after bagging four goals in the tournament.

    Defence is a worry for Canadians

    Canada have conceded goals in three of their four Gold Cup games.
    This is a worry, especially on the eve of a clash against an attackingly minded side like Mexico.
    Canada's last win over Mexico came in the 2000 Gold Cup when they forced their opponents into extra-time before bagging a winner and sealing their place in the semi-final.
    The Canucks went on to win the entire competition which to this day is their last international triumph.

    Goalscorer bet

    The aforementioned Rogelio Funes Mori is chasing the golden boot in this tournament. The forward has three goals to his name and is just one behind the current top scorer, Almoez Ali.

    However, the Canadians have done a lot of scoring themselves and two names in particular deserve a mention.

    Stephen Eustaquio, for instance, has scored in three of Canada's last four games.

    Cyle Larin, on the other hand, bagged three goals in Canada's opening two games of the tournament. Both men are certainly worth keeping an eye on.

    READ MORE: Transfer Zone: West Ham target Chelsea man and Spurs moving out another defender

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