Canada Vs Martinique
Canada Vs Martinique Sunday 11 July, 2021 – 23:30
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Pick: Canada & Over 2.5 Goals
Odds: 31/40
Bookmaker: Betway
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 9 July 2021)
Preview: In a repeat of their opening game of the last Gold Cup, Canada are taking on Martinique in the first set of fixtures to be played in Group B of this year’s edition of a tournament won by Mexico last time around in 2019.
CONCACAF Gold Cup Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Canada – Will Canucks rue Davies absence?
The Canucks are the only nation besides Mexico and the United States to win a Gold Cup, doing so for the second and last time in 2000. They have since appeared in all twelve subsequent editions but have only progressed further than the quarter-finals on two occasions. This includes the most recent tournament to be held, letting slip a 2-0 lead in 2019 to bow out at the last eight stage to Haiti.
Any aspirations of delving deeper this time around appear to have already hit the buffer following news star man Alphonso Davies is set to miss the entire tournament after sustaining an ankle injury during training. Make no mistake, this is a monumental blow. In particular for head coach John Herdman who would have been relying on the pacey and versatile wide man being the game-changer in this side.
In Davies’ absence, the goalscoring burden will likely fall on Cyle Larin’s shoulders. The forward enjoyed a stellar campaign in Turkey last season, netting 23 times in all competitions in helping Besiktas clinch a league and cup double. He will spearhead a side which scored 27 in winning all six matches in 2021, including home and away against the team which put them out of this competition two years ago, Haiti.
Martinique – Undercooked and fearing the worst?
With the country not officially recognised by FIFA, Martinique have no FIFA ranking. That makes it difficult to gauge where this team are at in terms of ability. Particularly as they last played a competitive match of any kind in November 2019. Yet they are all set to feature in their third straight Gold Cup, and seventh overall, with this their longest run of consecutive participations in their history.
Martinique have only once before made it beyond the initial group stage, losing out to Canada in the quarter-finals in 2002, but did provide a solid account of themselves in the most recent edition. A crushing 4-0 loss first time out against the Canadians could quite easily demoralised them. Instead it had a galvanising affect, swiftly dispatching Cuba 3-0 before running champions Mexico close in a 3-2 defeat.
Several players involved in that tournament are no longer part of the senior set-up, though. The bulk of this side applying their trade in the country’s top division, the Championnat National. Meanwhile, since the last Gold Cup, Martinique have featured just four times competitively, all in CONCACAF Nations League where they failed to win any of their match-ups with Honduras and Trinidad & Tobago.
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Canada Vs Martinique Betting Advice
Until Friday, when news emerged Alphonso Davies – the undisputed star of this Canadian team – would miss the tournament, Canada were billed as potential dark horses to claim their third Gold Cup. That has all changed. As while this is still a team capable of going deep, especially given how the draw looks favourable, that lack of star quality could hurt them should they get out of a group that includes the USA.
Canada Vs Martinique – Key Facts:
- For the second successive Gold Cup, Canada begin their tournament against Martinique. The Carnucks no doubt seeking a repeat of their rousing 4-0 victory in June 2019.
- Whereas Canada should be up to speed after winning all six competitive matches so far in 2021, Martinique are featuring for the first time in any fixture since November 2019.
- Canada come into the tournament on the back of six consecutive wins, scoring 27 and conceding only once in these games. All came in 2022 World Cup Qualifiers.
Canada ran out 4-0 winners when taking on Martinique first time out at the 2019 Gold Cup, however the latter went on to give a very creditable account of themselves. Since then, Martinique have featured only four times in competitive games, winning none (D3 L1). Canada, meanwhile, have won 11 of 13 during the same period, including the last six on the spin, covering Over 2.5 Goals all by themselves eight times. Another high-scoring victory for the Canucks is worth chancing at around even money.
Best Betting Odds – Canada Vs Martinique
Canada – 2/11
Draw – 11/2
Martinique – 14/1
(All odds taken from Betway)
