COPA AMERICA: MEXICO VS JAMAICA PREVIEW, PREDICTION & BETTING PICKS

Given their current form, Mexico are likely to have a bigger challenge on their hands with this Jamaica side, however, Mexico are still the likely winners with Antonio also a likely scorer. Mexico 2 - 1 Jamaica.

Mexico take on Jamaica in their opening game of the Copa America this smer. Group B is tightly matched, making a win here important to set precedent for the top spot going into the knock-out rounds.

Date: 23/06/2024

Kick-off time: 09:00 (EST)

Location: NRG Stadium

This opening game can set the tone for Mexico and Jamaica, as Group B also hosts Ecuador and Venezuela, there is a chance to progress even while in poor form.Mexico, as a CONCACAF member, had to win their way into the Copa America. In the CONCACAF Nations League Semi-finals, Mexico dispatched Panama 3 - 0 and despite losing 2 - 0 in the Final to the US, Mexico still qualified for the Copa America.As an invitee, Mexico have made ten appearances in the appearances following their debut in 1993. Since then Mexico have made the Semi-finals on three occasions, finishing third in the tournament and have made the Final twice, losing both times - to Argentina in 1993 and to Colombia in 2001.Jamaica are also a CONCACAF member and won their qualification for the Copa America through the Nations League. Though Jamaica lost the Semi-final 3 - 1 to the US, they won the Third place Play-off 1 - 0 against Panama and made it to the final tournament.This will be Jamaica’s third appearance at the Copa America since their debut in 2015. In both 2015 and 2016, Jamaica crashed out in the Group stage, losing all six of their Copa America games so far.Mexico and Jamaica have met 32 times in their histories, with the first meeting coming back in 1962 in the Central American and Caribbean Games. Mexico have the better record in the fixture with 22 wins in comparison to Jamaica’s five wins, with the other five games ending in a draw.The last five games in this fixture have seen two draws and three wins for Mexico. However, four of the last five games have seen both sides on the scoresheet.

Mexico Team News

Jaime Lozano has some veterans in his side like Cesar Montes and Jorge Sanchez but also has some promising talents like West Ham’s Edson Alvarez and Feyenoord’s Santi Gimenez.

Jamaica Team News

Heimir Hallgrimsson has a promising squad with the likes of stars like Ethan Pinnock, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Kasey Palmer, Leon Bailey, Michail Antonio and Demarai Gray.

In their last five games in all competitions, Mexico have two wins and three losses.The CONCACAF Nations League Semi-final saw Mexico take on Panama. Alvarez opened the scoring for Mexico in the 40th minute and Julian Quinones doubled the lead just before the halftime whistle. Orbelin Pineda added another in the second half to give Mexico the 3 - 0 win.The Final of the Nations League saw Mexico face the US. Tyler Adams gave the US the lead on the stroke of halftime and Giovanni Reyna secured the 2 - 0 win in the second half as Mexico managed just two shots on target.An international friendly saw Mexico take on Bolivia. Efrain Alvarez scored the only goal of the game just minutes into the second half to give Mexico the 1 - 0 win, with Bolivia picking up just one shot on target in ten attempts.The visit from Uruguay was one to forget for Mexico. A hat-trick from Darwin Nunez and a goal from Facundo Pellistri gave Uruguay the 4 - 0 win as Mexico failed to convert any of their three shots on target even with more of the possession.The last time out for Mexico was against Brazil. Andreas Pereiera opened the scoring for Brazil in the fifth minute to give them the lead at halftime and Gabriel Martinelli doubled the lead early in the second half. An own goal from Yan Couto got Mexico on the scoresheet with 15 minutes to go and Guillermo Martinez Ayala equalised in the second minute of the added time. However, Endrick popped up with a goal in the sixth minute to give Brazil the 3 - 2 win.

In their last five games in all competitions, Jamaica have three wins, one draw and one loss.An international friendly saw Jamaica take on Trinidad and Tobago. Neither side could find the back of the net and had to settle for a 0 - 0 draw.The CONCACAF Nations League Semi-final saw Jamaica take on the US. Greg Leigh gave Jamaica the lead in the first minute but an own goal from Cody Burke in the 96th minute sent the tie to extra time. A brace from Haji Wright in extra time gave the US the 3 - 1 win.In the Third place Play-off Dexter Lembikisa scored the only goal of the game in the 41st minute to give Jamaica the 1 - 0 win over Panama who had just two shots on target with 62% of the possession.Jamaica picked up another win in a World Cup Qualifier against the Dominican Republic. Shamar Nicholson was the only name on the scoresheet with his goal in the 16th minute giving Jamaica the 1 - 0 win.The most recent outing for Jamaica was against Dominica. A brace from Nicholson and a goal from Kaheim Dixon gave Jamaica the 3 - 0 lead with ten minutes to go. Javid George and Troy Jules did score for Dominica but Jamaica held on for the 3 - 2 win.