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The US Men’s National Team got a much-needed result Sunday against Trinidad & Tobago.
It was hardly unexpected, as the Yanks were massive favorites to beat the Soca Warriors, but it was vital that Team USA got back on track after a four-match losing streak led to off-field controversy that engulfed head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
The only way that Pochettino and USMNT can keep things quiet is by following up their 5-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago with another victory against Saudi Arabia in the Gold Cup on Thursday night at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
The Stars & Stripes are a -185 favorite on the three-way moneyline at FanDuel for Thursday’s tilt.
Gold Cup: USA vs. Saudi Arabia betting preview
Saudi Arabia shocked everybody with a 2-1 win over Argentina in the 2022 World Cup, a result that got tongues wagging about the possibility that the Arabian Falcons were on their way to becoming a relevant team in international soccer.
That isn’t what happened, as Saudi Arabia lost its next two matches in Qatar and has essentially traded wins, draws and losses since upsetting Lionel Messi and company.
Saudi Arabia is ranked as the No. 58 team in the world in the latest FIFA World Cup Rankings, which puts them in the same range as Ireland, Qatar, Uzbekistan, and Jordan.
Diego Luna of the United States during Sunday’s match with Trinidad & Tobago. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectGold Cup: USA vs. Saudi Arabia pick
It’s hard to say we’ve learned anything new about the USMNT after they thumped Trinidad & Tobago.
The Stars & Stripes took care of business and were ruthless anytime the Soca Warriors made a mistake, but they were gifted plenty of scoring chances through Trinidad & Tobago errors, rather than anything else.
Saudi Arabia will be a much stiffer test, but not one that the Americans should, at least on paper, have any issues overcoming.
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The Arabian Eagles ground out a 1-0 win against Haiti in their opening match, but they were far from impressive. A 21st-minute penalty was the difference, and it was Haiti that had more possessions and shot attempts.
One thing we can expect from Saudi Arabia is they will try to make life difficult for the Americans with physical play and dogged defense.
Head coach Hervé Renard is renowned for his ability to get the most out of underdog rosters, and he does it by organizing them defensively and looking to counter.
The USMNT will know that the Saudi Arabians will be sitting deep, and looking to counter, which should lead to a more tepid, careful pace from the Americans.
Team USA should have enough to get this over the line, but the stylistic matchup means this could be a snoozer.
The Play: Under 2.5 goals (-130) | USA 2-0 exact score (+550, FanDuel)
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
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