USA Vs Haiti
USA Vs Haiti Monday 12 July, 2021 – 01:30
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Pick: USA Win & Both Teams to Score
Odds: 15/8
Bookmaker: BetVictor
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 10 July 2021)
Preview: The United States Men’s National Team take their first tentative steps to what they hope will be a seventh Gold Cup triumph in the early hours of Monday. Gregg Berhalter’s USA side take on Haiti, the surprise performers at the last tournament, in Kansas City for the opening game in Group B.
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Table of Contents
USA – Expectations tempered owing to lack of star names?
As a six-time former Gold Cup winner, having reached at least the semi-finals in all but one of the past seven editions, the United States – who are the hosts, let’s not forget – are unsurprisingly among the leading contenders for glory once again. If they are to lift the trophy for the first time since 2017, though, it will have to be achieved with a relatively inexperienced squad featuring only four overseas players.
The decision to omit a host of first-team regulars appears to be with the final phase of 2022 World Cup Qualifying solely in mind, with that campaign set to resume in September. So there will be no Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna or Weston McKennie, among many others. Thus depriving them, and us, of much of the side that claimed Nations League spoils in last month’s thrilling final with Mexico.
We can therefore expect plenty of rotation throughout the tournament. USA breezed through their group the last time, though, winning all three fixtures without so much as a goal conceded. It is highly unlikely this team will surpass that feat, after conceding in four of the last six games. Yet they are in excellent form otherwise. Their sole loss since November 2019 against Switzerland in a friendly last May (W11 D1).
Haiti – Bar substantially raised following 2019 heroics?
Les Grenadiers were the big winners at the last Gold Cup, even if they did ultimately fall short of a first final. Haiti topped a group comprising Costa Rica, Bermuda and Nicaragua two years ago, scoring twice in winning all three match-ups. Coming from 2-0 down, they then stunned Canada in the last eight, winning 3-2, before a valiant semi-final display saw them ousted in extra-time by eventual champions Mexico.
Their run last time was unprecedented and a repeat performance seems improbable, especially against the backdrop of so much instability back home. They had to qualify just to be here. Thought they did encounter scant resistance in doing so, thrashing both St Vincent and the Grenadines and Bermuda 6-1 and 4-1 respectively, making it five wins and two losses, both to Canada in World Cup Qualifiers, in 2021.
Frantzdy Pierrot notched four times across those aforementioned Gold Cup qualifying encounters, including a hat-trick in the latter. The 26-year-old wasn’t a regular starter for club side Guingamp in Ligue 2 last season, featuring just 13 times, but still ended the campaign as the team’s second leading goalscorer with six. So he has the form to add to his 10 goals from just 17 senior caps for the Haiti senior side.
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USA Vs Haiti Betting Advice
This inexperienced USA team are playing for their spots in the squad for next September’s crucial World Cup qualifiers, which is of huge importance bearing in mind they failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The theory is, then, that these players will be keen to impress coach Gregg Berhalter, who is without almost his entire European contingent for this tournament.
USA Vs Haiti – Key Facts:
- At the most recent Gold Cup in 2019, both USA and Haiti won 100% of their matches in the group stage, before both were eliminated in the knockouts by Mexico.
- USA didn’t concede a goal during in the group phase at the 2019 edition, winning all three fixtures ‘to nil’. However, they didn’t manage a clean sheet in four of their last six matches in all competitions.
- Haiti scored exactly two goals in all three group games in 2019. They would also score three first half goals in both qualifying games for this tournament (vs St Vincent/Grenadines and Bermuda).
Although they are weaker for some high-profile absences, it would still constitute a major shock were USA not to begin with a win. It is unlikely to be straightforward, however. Haiti were the surprise package at the last tournament, topping their group on route to the semi-finals. USA have conceded in four of their last six matches while Haiti netted 2+ in their first four outings at the previous Gold Cup.
Best Betting Odds – USA Vs Haiti
USA – 2/7
Draw – 17/4
Haiti – 8/1
(Odds shown taken from BetVictor)
