Mexico will have a tough time in their bid to halt the curse of the fifth game. El Tri has been remarkably successful at making it out of the Group Stage. They have made it to the knockout rounds for seven straight World Cups, with only a couple countries having longer streaks in that regard. However, they have not been able to advance past the Round of 16, getting ousted in the first elimination match in each of the last six World Cups. They are heavy favorites not to advance this time either, taking on overall favorite Brazil.
The most anticipated sporting event in the world comes around once every four years, so don’t miss any of the 2018 World Cup. This match will take place at Samara Arena in Samara at 10 a.m. ET on Monday, July 2, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on FOX.
World Cup Round of 16 Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Mexico +619
Brazil -196
Draw +319
Over/Under 2.5
Recent Form
To be fair, El Tri only have themselves to blame for the tough draw. After impressive performances in wins over Mexico and South Korea, they only needed a result to clinch the top spot in Group F. Sweden had not looked strong on offense in their first two matches, so getting at least a draw seemed likely.
Of course, that’s not what happened. Sweden poured it on, trouncing Mexico 3-0 on their way to claiming the top spot in the group. Mexico was stifled on the attack, while Sweden continually found holes in their defense to get the victory. That put Mexico’s fate in the hands of South Korea, as a Germany win would have led to Mexico getting bounced in the Group Stage due to goal differential. Fortunately for El Tri, South Korea pulled off the biggest upset of the World Cup in beating Germany 2-0 and many Mexican fans celebrating by thanking random Koreans they saw at the match.
Brazil has not looked unbeatable though. They drew with Switzerland 1-1 in their first match of the tournament, and then they needed extra time in order to get past tiny Costa Rica 2-0. That left them in need of a win to ensure they grabbed the top spot in Group E, and that’s when we saw the Brazil we had been expecting.
Their 2-0 win over Serbia was their best performance yet. Serbia was unable to get anything going on offense, while Brazil constantly pressured their goal. Paulinho and Thiago Silva notched the goals for Brazil in the win.
Player to Watch
It’s time for Neymar to come through when it matters the most. Brazil’s star has only found the back of the net once this World Cup, and he has been somewhat overshadowed by teammate Philippe Coutinho. Coutinho has notched two goals and has been a more creative and reliable attacking option for his team.
Neymar has had his moments, but he has looked out of sorts at times. For Brazil to claim their sixth World Cup, they need No. 10 to start hammering home his chances.
Matchup to Watch
Mexico may present some problems for Brazil at the back. Chicharito has had a very good World Cup so far, and Hirving Lozano has been the breakout star of the competition for El Tri. These two have showed chemistry and will likely lead the counter like they did against Germany.
Injuries have taken their toll on Brazil so far, and they might not have either of their first choice outside backs for this one. Danilo has been dealing with a hip injury and did not play against Serbia, while Marcelo came off injured with a back issue in their last match. Additionally, Douglas Costa, Fred, and Renato Augusta have been dealing with injuries too. No word has been given regarding the status of each of those players.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Keep an eye on the injury report for Brazil, especially with the long odds on El Tri. If Marcelo and Danilo are unable to play, go ahead and take a chance with Mexico to advance. However, I think one, if not both, players will be able to kit up for this match and their experience will make the difference.
World Cup Round of 16 Odds: Brazil 2, Mexico 1
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