Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
In the early hours of Wednesday, June 18, Curaçao will face El Salvador in the opening round of the Gold Cup. The match kicks off at 2:15 Central European Time, and here’s my betting tip for this showdown.
Curaçao vs El Salvador: Match preview
Curaçao rarely features in the CONCACAF Gold Cup finals. The last time the national team participated was in 2019, and they put on an impressive run. The squad topped their group and advanced to the quarterfinals. They couldn’t progress further, but it was an outstanding result—especially considering Curaçao has only appeared at the Gold Cup twice, in 2017 and 2019. This time, they’ve landed in a tough group alongside El Salvador, Honduras, and Canada. Advancing to the knockout stage won’t be easy, but there’s definitely room for an upset.
El Salvador, on the other hand, is a regular at this tournament. They last missed the Gold Cup back in 2005. Over the past two decades, El Salvador has consistently reached the group stage and made it to the playoffs three times. However, they’ve never advanced past the quarterfinals. The team’s best achievements remain their runner-up finishes in 1963 and 1981. In the last tournament, El Salvador disappointed, picking up just two points and finishing at the bottom of their group. This time, they’ll be eager to show much more.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Coming into the tournament, Curaçao has won seven of their last ten matches, lost twice, and drawn once.
- El Salvador has claimed five wins, suffered two losses, and drawn three times in their last ten outings.
- El Salvador has scored at least once in 12 consecutive matches.
- The last two meetings between these sides ended 1-1. They’ve faced each other seven times in total, and Curaçao is still searching for their first win in this matchup.
Probable lineups
- Curaçao: Room; Brenet, Gary, Van Eijma, Floranus; RemeRatoe, L. Bacuna; Margarita, J. Bacuna, Gorré; Castaños.
- El Salvador: González; Tamacas, Domínguez, Cruz, Larín; Landaverde, Cartagena; Osorio, Ordaz, Enríquez; Gil.
Prediction
This promises to be a tough contest for both sides. It’s clear that both Curaçao and El Salvador are eager to kick off the tournament with a win. Three points in the opening round could provide a major boost in the fight to escape the group, so expect both teams to push for victory. My bet: both teams to score, with odds at 1.93.
