posted July 9, 2009 at 18:48 EST in Soccer Articles
CONCACAF GOLD CUP 2009 - Guadeloupe vs. Nicaragua
by Nila Amerova
Guadeloupe were Round 1 winners after they beat Panama 2:1 on Sunday. Guadeloupe are out to prove they are real contenders, not just also-rans. Guadeloupe could put itself in a strong position to earn a quarterfinals berth with a win Nicaragua, who along with Panama are at the bottom of Group C. Nicaragua opened their campaign with a 2:0 loss to Mexico and now find themselves in a bit of a pickle. They hope to make an impression on their first-ever Gold Cup showing; so far, not so good an impression. Obviously, this is a must win match for them.
Guadeloupe -1 -105 -200 2 O -160 U +130 Draw +275
Nicaragua +1 -125 +500 2 O -160 U +130 Draw +275
Match Time: 07:00 P.M. Eastern Time Thursday July 9 2009
Venue: Reliant Stadium, Houston Texas
Guadeloupe -200: According to the bookies, Guadeloupe enter as the favourites. The Gwada boys return to Gold Cup action for the second time after reaching the semis on their first showing in 2007. Currently, they are second in the table, level on points with Group C leaders Mexico. A win today against bottom of the table Nicaragua would most likely see them through to the quarterfinals.
Nicaragua +500: Nicaragua earned its first major soccer honour when it qualified for Gold Cup by beating Guatemala 2-0 finishing fifth in the Central American Nations Cup. They are competing for the first time at this level; their inexperience showed in their opener as they were outclassed by tournament favourites Mexico.
Soccer Betting Verdict: Guadeloupe are the dangerous floaters in this tournament and many pundits have them as the dark horse to go all the way. In 2007, a draw with Haiti and an upset over Canada sent Guadeloupe to the quarters of its first international tourney, when it upset Honduras 2-1 they moved into the semis. They finished in third place.
Guadeloupe is an overseas extension of France. Most players carry French passports and are eligible to play for French national team. There is a lot of depth and quality on this team and as such, they are the value play at -200. Outclassing Nicaragua – who simply do not have parallel football pedigree (much better known as a baseball nation) – should not be too arduous a task.
Soccer Free Picks: Guadeloupe -200 |Over 2 goals -160
