With Uruguay classed as pre-tournament favourites to top Group A, and Team GB expected to finish behind them, Mexico may well have been thinking they would have a meeting with the hosts in the quarter-finals.
Yet Uruguay's failure to progress saw Mexico handed a last-eight tie with a Senegal side who have caused some upsets themselves in the competition so far.
Bet365 price El Tricolor as the slight favourites at 11/8 (2.37) while the Africans, who recorded a win over Uruguay and held GB to a draw, can be backed at 2/1 (3.00) to win.
With both sides yet to lose in the competition, and being fairly evenly-matched, a bet on either team to win does not particularly appeal.
What looks like a more solid selection, albeit at fairly small odds, is backing under 2.5 goals at 1/2 (1.50).
In the six matches played by the two teams at the tournament so far, every single one has seen less that three goals scored.
That price, however, will only attract serious punters looking for heavy investment, so a more universally appealing bet may be to back a goalless first half available at 5/4 (2.25). This bet has paid out in every one of Mexico's matches at the tournament so far and offers some decent value.
So if a low-scoring contest is probable then it makes sense to continue along similar lines for a value bet, and backing a goalless draw at full-time available at the price of 6/1 (7.00) looks like an appealing option.
| BET |
OF THE |
DAY |
| BEST BET |
VALUE BET |
| Under 0.5 goals first half at 5/4 (2.25) with Bet365 |
Correct score 0-0 at 6/1 at (7.00) with Bet365 |
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Phil Kitromilides is a sports broadcaster working on radio and TV in London and Madrid. You can also follow Phil on Twitter.
