USA have a golden opportunity

Hosts to get off to a strong start

Football fans now turn their attentions to the Gold Cup, following a thrilling Confederations Cup campaign. USA play host to the tournament, and go in search of what would be their sixth title, but start as second favourites behind Mexico.

Big time international football fixtures continue to come at us thick and fast this summer, and Coral keeps you at the heart of the action. Click here to have your say on the outright winner of the Gold Cup, or to build your weekend accumulators.

Group winner will come out of this match

USA have been dropped into Group B, alongside Martinique, Nicaragua and Panama. They should have little trouble getting themselves out of that pool, but do face their toughest test of the stage in game one, meeting Panama on Saturday evening.

It’s little surprise to see America line-up as hot favourites to get the desired result, but followers of this fixture, and punters who like to keep the stats close, know it’ll be foolish to completely write off the plucky underdogs. Panama have only beaten Team USA once before, but each of the last three between the sides have ended all square.

It’s difficult to ignore the draw

Another draw would put a dent in the hosts’ confidence. These rivals last met back in March when scrapping to a 1-1 finish, a Clint Dempsey goal cancelled out by Gabriel Gomez at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez. What’s more surprising is that it was the third 1-1 finish in-a-row between the rivals. Another draw has been chalked up at 9/4, while a play on 1-1 appeals in the correct score market, with Coral trading 11/2.