USA a good bet to experience joy of six

Concacaf Gold Cup
From midnight Friday

Mexico have won seven Concacaf Gold Cups in the last 24 years and are favourites to land another title in the United States despite taking a second-string squad to the competition.

El Tri's main focus this summer was on the Confederations Cup. They reached the semi-finals in Russia, losing 4-1 to Germany, but none of those players are part of their Concacaf Gold Cup squad.

Mexico's reserves will be too strong for most of their rivals but they may struggle to cope with hosts and five-times champions USA, who could be opposing them in the final.

USA are nowhere near full-strength but have plenty of experience with five of their squad capped at least 40 times.

Mexico possess just one player capped more than 30 times – 42-cap goalkeeper Jesus Corona, who was called up after missing the Confederations Cup through injury.

The only team other than USA and Mexico to have won a Concacaf Gold Cup are 2000 champions Canada.

Canada have been pitched into a winnable group alongside Costa Rica, Honduras and French Guiana and, if they can finish inside the top two, they would probably avoid having to play either USA or Mexico until the semi-finals.

Canada are unbeaten in three friendlies this year (including a 1-1 draw away to Scotland) and seem to be benefiting from many of their players gaining experience in Major League Soccer with Vancouver Whitecaps, Montreal Impact and Toronto.

Eight of their 23 players have played for MLS teams this season and that experience of a decent standard of football may stand them in good stead.

Lifting the trophy will be a tough ask but Canada have the capacity to produce at least one shock result and look each-way value at 40-1.

Recommendations
USA
3pts 7-4 Betway
Canada
1pt each-way 40-1 bet365, Betfred