The 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup continues this Wednesday with Group B action. The US Soccer team is currently looking for the top spot of their group, as they stand in third place. The soccer odds favor the USA against Martinique to win the Gold Cup matchup.
USA vs. Martinique 2017 Gold Cup Game Preview & Odds
When: Wednesday, July 12 at 9 PM EST Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa TV: FS1 Radio: None Live Stream: Fox Sports Go FIFA Odds: USA -2+107, ML -475, U 3 -110 / Martinique +2-127, ML +1400, O 3 -110 / Draw +575On that #GoldCup2017 grind.
s from training in Tampa. #USAvMTQ coming at you tomorrow night at 9 pm ET!https://t.co/MXnMDrIhtj — U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) July 11, 2017
Brief Game Analysis
If you look back a bit at what’s happened so far since the beginning of the tournament, Costa Rica have been installed as one of the early favorites here because they have a full squad present, while the likes of the USA and Mexico, while still favored, are going to have to do it with players not normally seen wearing the colors of their team on the international stage. Mexico got their Gold Cup campaign off to a solid start, but the same cannot be said of the Americans, as they put in a rather disjointed effort in their opener against Panama, which ended in a 1-1 tie.What Has Happened So Far for Both Teams?
Honestly, you hate to label any game a must win, but that is essentially what the US are facing when they play their second group stage game versus Martinique on Wednesday night. Martinique may not be a big name on the international soccer stage, but they are no slouches either. They rolled out to a 2-0 win in their opener against Nicaragua, and you have to feel that they would be happy with stealing a point from this one. A draw would not be the worst result for the US, as their final group game would be against a Nicaragua side who did not look particularly good in their opener. This should be a highly entertaining match-up.Why Bet on the USA?
It is always tough for a makeshift team to come together quickly, which is why winning a tournament like the Gold Cup is always a bit of a stretch for any team not playing their regulars. The US looked particularly disjointed against Panama in their 1-1 tie in the opening group stage game, and were it not for Brad Guzan in goal, this one could have gotten away from them in the end. The Americans simply didn’t look like much of a threat going forward, although Dom Dwyer was able to take advantage of the one half chance that was presented to him.The Fans Want Dom Dwyer on the Squad
A lot of US soccer fans have been calling or Dwyer to be part of the squad for some time now, and the fact that he has scored in each of his two starts for his country may well be a sign that he belongs. The reality here, though, is that the Panama game was always going to be the toughest in the group for the US, as handling their physical style of play is tough on any team. Expect a better performance from the Yanks in this one.
Why Bet on Martinique?
After watching Martinique cruise to a 2-0 win over Nicaragua in the opener, you can bet that the US will not be taking this team for granted. Their playing style is fluid and very European in nature, and they looked dangerous every time they were in the Nicaragua half of the field, which was a lot. The quality of this Martinique team really should not come as a huge surprise, as many of their players are plying their trade in the top European leagues. US fans may well recognize striker Kevin Parsemain from his stint with the Seattle Sounders in the MLS before he was sidelined with a major injury. The big man scored the opener against Nicaragua, and is going to be a handful for a US defense that did not look particularly good in their opening game.Predicted Lineup
USA
1-Brad Guzan, 2-Jorge Villafaña, 3-Omar Gonzalez, 5-Matt Besler, 6-Kelyn Rowe, 10-Joe Corona, 11-Alejandro Bedoya (capt.), 13-Dax McCarty, 14-Dom Dwyer, 19-Graham Zusi, 23-Kellyn Acosta.Martinique
23-Kevin Olimpa, 8-Jordy Delem, 3-Antoine Jean-Baptiste, 5-Karl Vitulin, 21-Sebestian Cretinoir, 20-Stephane Abaul, 18-Jean-Emmanuel Nedra, 19-Daniel Herelle, 17-Kevin Parsemain, 11-Johan Audel, 12-Joann Arquin.Previous Results
USA
- Tie – July 8th, 2017 vs. Panama. Score: 1-1.
- Win – July 1st, 2017 vs. Ghana. Score: 2-1.
- Tie – June 11th, 2017 vs. Mexico. Score 1-1.
- Win – June 8th, 2017 vs. Trinidad and Tobago. Score: 2-0.
- Tie – June 3rd vs. Venezuela. Score: 1-1.
Martinique
- Win – July 8th, 2017 vs. Nicaragua. Score: 2-0.
- Loss – June 25th, 2017 vs. French Guiana. Score: 1-0.
- Loss – June 22nd, 2017 vs. Curacao. Score: 2-1.
- Win – October 11th, 2016 vs. Trinidad and Tobago. Score: 0-0 (2-0 Penalties)
- Win – October 8th, 2016 vs. Dominican Republic. Score: 2-1.
Upcoming 2017 Gold Cup Schedule
- Saturday, July 15th. USA vs. Nicaragua. 5pm CT.
- Saturday, July 15th. Panama vs. Martinique. 2:30pm CT.
