Group A Favorites Portugal and Mexico Kickstart Confederation Cup
Published June 18, 2017 by Florin P
Portugal seeks another trophy and opens its Confederation Cup campaign with a match against main Group rival Mexico (4:00 p.m UK Time).
The most anticipated match in the opening round of the Confederation Cup is the one between Mexico and Portugal. These are the main favorites to win the group, despite the fact that the tournament takes place in Russia. They are also the more offensive teams and the ones likely to score plenty of goals, so there is tremendous interest for this fixture.
Another Key Trophy for Portugal
Portugal managed to win the European Championship in France against the host nation and seeks another important trophy. This one seems to be within reach, with pundits expecting a final between them and World Cup winners Germany. Defeating Mexico in the opening round won’t be easy, because the North Americans are traveling to Russia with some of their best players.
Portugal won 9 of the last 11 games and lost just once, a very similar performance with Mexico. Most of those trials were narrow margin victories, which only complicates matters for those expecting a lopsided victory. The Europeans have the advantage in the head to head record, as Portugal won both games so far, each time by the odd goal.
Vital Three Points for Group A Teams
Portugal usually starts tournaments with narrow margin victories and they need such a triumph more than ever. They will face Russia in a potentially decisive match and their opponents will enjoy the complete support of the home crowd. That’s why the Europeans settled for a draw in the opening match and will push for a victory against Mexico.
The odds offered by bet365 Sports for a Portuguese victory in Russia currently stand at 11/10, above the industry standard. As kickoff draws near, they’re expected to drop sharply, so punters who plan on backing Europeans shouldn’t delay the placement of the bet. There is also the option of betting on fewer than 2.5 goals to be scored at similar odds.
