Both Mexico and Costa Rica got off to pretty good starts to their World Cup qualifying campaigns, and they're probably both en route to Russia in 2018. Their match against each other though, should be a good litmus test for both in terms of what they're going to see down the line when the competition becomes a lot more intense.
At 8:30 p.m. ET, tune into FOX Sports 1 for live television coverage of this World Cup Qualifying match on Friday, March 24, 2017, at Estadio Azteca.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Mexico -190
Costa Rica +550
Draw +250
Over/Under 2
Odds Analysis
Neither one of these teams have a heck of a lot of pressure on their backs right now. Mexico though, always seems to have troubles. Juan Carlos Osorio has been on the job with El Tri since 2015 when Miguel Herrera was fired, and even though he's 14-3-1 as the boss of this team, there are always grumblings about him losing his job. So though El Tri shouldn't have an issue qualifying for the World Cup this time around, that pressure remains there with every two matches this team plays.
That's part of the reason why Mexico is set at -190 on the moneyline and is comfortably a one-goal favorite against what very well might be the second best team in CONCACAF at the moment.
The total is set at a flat 2, and that shouldn't be shocking either. These two teams are both defensive-minded, and both will be content to try to figure out how to get out of this match with a 1-0 victory.
How They've Performed
The Hex has been really good to Costa Rica in the early going. Los Ticos, who had problems scoring goals in the Copa America competition last year, came out of the blocks on fire against Trinidad & Tobago in November and picked up a 2-0 victory. But it was the 4-0 win over the United States that followed that both propelled the Costa Ricans to the top of the Hex with six points and a +6 goal differential and simultaneously ended the tenure of Jurgen Klinsmann in charge of the USMNT.
Mexico was the team that started off Klinsmann's final descent. The team came out with a fury in taking the first goal from the United States, and for the majority of the 90 minutes, it was the team on the front foot in Columbus. The goal that won the match by Rafael Marquez was a stunner reminiscent of the goal at the end of stoppage time that won the playoff for the Confederations Cup at the Rose Bowl against the Americans as well. But following that up with a scoreless draw against Panama was a bit of a lull. The Panamanians aren't all that good and are definitely beatable both home and away. Still, four points from those two away matches isn't a bad result for a team that will probably only need around a dozen points to qualify.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
This is still a really strong Mexican side that has been incredibly tactical against all comers. Osorio isn't going to change who he is and who this El Tri side is even though the pressure is going to mount at Azteca if they go an hour or so without a goal as was the case against Panama on the road. That said, playing for a low-scoring win is exactly what Mexico is setting out to get, especially in a match where picking up a point isn't the end of the world either.
As a result, a Costa Rican side that often just throws Bryan Ruiz forward with Joel Campbell behind won't be against playing a slow, plodding game either.
We'll go with the under and wouldn't be shocked if neither team was able to get on the board when push comes to shove.
World Cup Qualifying Odds: Mexico 0, Costa Rica 0
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