Andrew McDermott
The CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals conclude with arguably the pick of the last-eight matches when the United States face Jamaica. At least one of these teams have reached each of the last eight finals and this is a repeat of the 2017 showpiece, which the USA won 2-1.
The ‘big five’ European leagues have released their schedules for the 2021-22 season so we have analysed the fixture difficulty for them all. While every team has to play everyone else at some point, timing can be everything. A tough start can easily undermine a positive pre-season, while a gentle run of opening fixtures can provide the momentum necessary for a successful campaign.
Great Britain’s women made a winning start to their Olympic campaign but are expected to face a tougher test when they meet hosts Japan on Saturday. Team GB began with a 2-0 victory over Chile – just as we predicted at 4/1 – and are top of Group A after the opening round of matches.
Canada were one of the most impressive teams during the group stage of the CONCACAF Gold Cup and may feel aggrieved to be seen as the underdogs for their quarter-final in the eyes of the bookmakers. The Reds enjoyed two comfortable victories before a narrow loss denied them top spot in their group, although it should be noted Costa Rica were one of only two teams to progress with three wins out of three.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics get under way on July 23 and we are assessing the Team GB odds heading into the Games. The Olympics have been delayed by a year but are still due to take place amid a state of emergency caused by rising coronavirus rates in the Japanese capital.
Four sports will make their respective debuts at the Tokyo Games and here we assess the odds for the new Olympic events. Baseball is back at the Summer Olympics for the first time since 2008 but we’re focusing on debuts for karate, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing.
Mexico head into the quarter-finals as the 6/4 favourites in the CONCACAF Gold Cup winner odds and will hope to prove why when they face 22/1 outsiders Honduras. Mexico have won the Gold Cup a record 11 times including three of the last five editions so there is plenty of reason to think they are the team to beat.
Qatar are playing at the CONCACAF Gold Cup as part of their preparations for hosting next year’s World Cup and it has been so far so good. They qualified for the quarter-finals as winners of Group D with seven points from their three matches and are favourites to reach the last four.
Japan will have home advantage but it is once again the United States who are the clear favourites to win the most gold medals in the Olympics betting odds. Team USA won 46 golds at the Olympics in 2016 and more of the same is expected at Tokyo 2020, which is going ahead after a 12-month delay.
Anthony Joshua puts his world heavyweight titles on the line when he stars in the first boxing event at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Up against him in north London is fellow Olympics 2012 gold medallist Oleksandr Usyk after talk of a meeting with Tyson Fury had to be put on hold.
Great Britain are one of the leading medal contenders in the women’s Olympic football and will hope to show why when they begin their campaign against Chile. England’s run to the World Cup semi-finals two years ago suggests a squad with three players from Scotland and Wales to strengthen it should be capable of reaching the latter stages.
Great Britain will hope to have an athlete on the podium as we check out the Olympic women’s 100m odds for the Tokyo Games. Dina Asher-Smith is one of the Team GB squad’s biggest medal hopes on the track in Tokyo in the 100m and 200m but faces fierce competition from Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in both events.
The men’s Olympic football tournament gets under way on Thursday and we have analysed the chances of the leading teams. No European country has won the competition since Spain in 1992 but they are the favourites as we make our Olympic men’s football predictions.
The women’s football at the Olympics has more prestige than the equivalent for men and we have taken a look at the leading contenders to win gold. With no age restrictions in place, many of the top players in the world will be on show at the Tokyo Games so here is our assessment of the best Olympic women’s football predictions.