Getty Germany are on a 13-game unbeaten run heading into Thursday's semifinal.
Despite fielding the more experienced international squad, Mexico are the underdog for Thursday’s Confederations Cup semifinal in Sochi.
Here are the latest odds from Bovada:
Germany vs. Mexico Odds
Spread: Germany -.5 (-110), Mexico +.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Germany -110, Mexico +275, Draw +275
Total: Over 2.5 (-125), Under 2.5 (EVEN)
Prediction:
El Tri finished group play unbeaten, but trailed in each of their three Group A matches. Germany aren’t the type of team to relinquish a lead, and so the CONCACAF champions need to tread lightly on Thursday.
Germany have brought a young team to the tournament, but it’s still full of top-level talent. Germany cruised through Group B play, winning two matches and playing Chile to a 1-1 draw. The defending World Cup champions are talented but not invincible, having conceded a goal in each group match.
Mexico is the more experienced team in Thursday’s semifinal, but they also have young talent of their own. Hirving Lozano scored in the team’s group finale against Russia, and made a strong case to earn a start against Germany. The 21-year old recently signed a deal to play at PSV with fellow countrymen Andres Guardado, who is serving a one-match ban for the semifinal.
If Mexico concede first like they have throughout the tournament, they could be in trouble. Germany have looked very solid on the counter in Russia, and were confident in possession against Cameroon once they secured a lead. Mexico don’t want to chase the game with a good passing team like Germany. Chicharito Hernandez has been training away from the team leading into this match, but he should be healthy and ready to flip the script on the German fans that root for him at Leverkusen.
In the first semifinal, Chile and Portugal went scoreless for 120 minutes before La Roja emerged victorious in a shootout. Mexico have been waiting one year to avenge their 7-1 loss to Chile in Copa America last summer, and now they have a chance. That’s not saying that they’re looking ahead to Chile, but I think Mexico are a stronger, more experienced team and can get the job done. If Germany really wanted to win Confederations Cup, their roster would say it. Mexico want this more.
Prediction: 2-1 Mexico
Best Bet: Mexico to come from behind and win (+1200)