Mexico vs Sweden betting tips: World Cup match preview & predictions
Mexico vs Sweden prediction: Mexico 2-2 Sweden
Expect goals in this one. The onus will be on Sweden to push for the win, although Mexico are unlikely to sit back and defend.
Despite winning both of their matches, Mexico are yet to secure a place in the last 16.
Mexico vs Sweden World Cup free bet offers:
Mexico vs Sweden: Who will win?
The bookies are having trouble separating these two sides, with Mexico slight favourites at 23/10.
Sweden are a fairly attractive looking 11/5 to claim victory. The draw is rated at 23/10.
Mexico vs Sweden match preview
Group F draws to a close on Wednesday with Mexico and Sweden facing off at the Central Stadium in Yekaterinburg.
Fellow Group F members Germany and South Korea will play each other at the same time.
Mexico begin the day as leaders of the group, following their second consecutive win. The Tricolor beat South Korea 2-1 thanks to goals from Carlos Vela and Javier Hernandez.
Sweden were cruelly denied a point against champions Germany on Saturday. Ola Toivonen gave Sweden the lead before Marco Reus levelled things up. The match looked to be heading for a draw but Toni Kroos scored in a 96th-minute winner.
Sweden’s 1-0 win over South Korea in their opening match keeps their knockout hopes alive.
The winner and runners-up of Group F will face the runners-up and winners of Group E respectively.
Sweden have faced Mexico nine times in international football, winning four and losing two. The two sides have only met once at a World Cup finals, where Sweden won 3-0 back in 1958.
Group F Permutations
Sweden have an identical record to Germany heading into the final match. Both sides have won one and lost won, scoring two and conceding two.
Of all the sides to have won both of their opening two matches, Mexico are the only ones who aren’t guaranteed a spot in the last sixteen. Failing to make the knockout stages would be cruel on Mexico, but it would take something special for that to happen.
A point for Mexico would be enough to confirm them as winners of the group. Mexico could be eliminated, however, if they lose and Germany beat South Korea and have their goal difference of two overturned in the process.
Sweden need to better Germany’s result against South Korea to secure a spot in the last 16.
Adding to the excitement, is the fact South Korea can still make it through but they need a win, a Mexico victory and a goal difference swing.
Mexico team news vs Sweden
Juan Carlos Osorio will be tempted to field the same eleven that started against South Korea.
Edson Alvarez and Carlos Salcedo are therefore expected to keep their places at right-back and centre-back respectively.
Sweden team news vs Mexico
Janne Andersson has no injury concerns coming into the match and is not expected to make any changes to his side.
Goalscorer Ola Toivanen should keep his place up front, alongside Marcus Berg.
Mexico predicted line-up vs Sweden
Sweden predicted line-up vs Mexico
All odds mentioned in this article are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
The latest videos from Mexico pre Sweden
We landed in Ekaterinburg! We are at the now. Time for some and rest! There’s an important challenge ahead. #NadaNosDetiene | #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/wrdCrfVecz — Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) June 25, 2018
Latest videos from Sweden pre Mexico match
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Mexico vs Sweden | World Cup 2018, Group F | Wednesday, June 27 | Ekateringburg Arena
Mexico and Sweden are not guaranteed a place in the knockout stages but sit in healthy positions.
A point will be enough for Mexico after winning their opening two games, while Sweden must better Germany's result over South Korea after losing in heartbreaking fashion last time out.
Scroll down for Standard Sport's comprehensive preview...
Group F P W D L F A Pts Mexico 2 2 0 0 3 1 6 Germany 2 1 0 1 2 2 3 Sweden 2 1 0 1 2 2 3 South Korea 2 0 0 2 1 3 0
Start time
Mexico and Sweden face off at Ekateringburg Arena with kick-off scheduled for 3pm BST.
TV, online and live stream coverage
The match will be televised live on BBC Two. Viewers can stream the match online via the BBC iPlayer.
You will be able to follow the match with Standard Sport's dedicated LIVE blog
Prediction
Betting tips via Betfair | UK users only | Odds subject to change
Mexico to win 2-1: 9/1
Javier Hernandez to score: 15/8
Marcus Berg to score: 11/4
Click here to find the latest match odds and place a bet.
Head to head
The two nations have faced each other nine times, but the most recent meet came nine years go as Sweden won a friendly 1-0.
Just once have they met at a World Cup and it was the first meeting, Sweden winning 3-0 in 1958.
Team news
Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio said his team would stick to its attacking style and play for a win against Sweden on Wednesday, even though a draw would be good enough to see them into the last 16 at the World Cup.
Mexico lead Group F with six points, three more than Sweden and Germany, and in theory they could afford to sit back and force the Swedes to make the running.
But Osorio, relishing the improvement in the team's performances that has helped to silence his many critics at home, said Mexico would stay true to the brand of play that led them to a stunning 1-0 win over Germany and a 2-1 victory over South Korea.
Full World Cup fixture schedule
Argentina's last-gasp 2-1 win over Nigeria headlined Tuesday's action, while Croatia ended Iceland's World Cup dream. Over in Group C, France and Denmark were happy to play to a 0-0 that sent both into the round of 16, with Peru defeating Australia 2-0 in a battle of also-rans.
It may have been a difficult day for the Socceroos, but Steph Brantz restored some Aussie pride by sharing first place with ESPN Deportes' Alex Pareja in Tuesday's predictions. Both pundits correctly foretold the result in each of the four games, and were rewarded with an extra 20 points each for picking the 2-1 scoreline in the Argentina-Nigeria game.
What a day we have on Wednesday! Lots of permutations to take into account, and the minefield of Group F where just about anything can happen -- and that's where we start.
Germany may need to beat South Korea, and will be guaranteed to go through if they win by two goals. Of course, every one of our pundits has predicted a Germany win, with all but ESPN Deportes' Rafa Ramos and ESPN Mexico's John Sutcliffe (both 2-1) saying the margin will be big enough to send them though. ESPN FC's Germany correspondent, Raph Honigstein, says 2-0 Germany.
The other game in the group is Mexico against Sweden. Mexico were through with 30 seconds to go in Germany-Sweden, but Toni Kroos' late goal means there's a real chance they will be going home. They need only a point to go through, but defeat guarantees the Swedes will go through and barring a Korean miracle sends Mexico home. We have a real split here, as ESPN FC's Gab Marcotti and Raph, along with Rafa, say Sweden will win, but four pundits go for Mexico. ESPN Mexico's Javier Trejo Garay and Miguel Pasquel think their team will win 2-1, but colleague John Sutcliffe reckons 0-0, as does ESPN Deportes' Herc Gomez.
Over to Group E for the second pair of games, with Brazil needing a point against Serbia to guarantee safe passage. ESPN Brasil's Leonardo Bertozzi sees no problem and a 2-0 victory, while eight of the other pundits also think it will be a Brazil success. The only person to buck that trend is Gab, who says 1-1.
Switzerland take on Costa Rica, who already know they will be going home. The Swiss need a point to guarantee at least one more game in Russia, and few would back against that. Not only few, no one! Five pundits go for a Swiss win, and five go for the draw. Gab dares to predict a goalless draw.
Check out how our pundits got on with their predictions for Tuesday's games and remember to join the pundits' league in Match Predictor.
We've got our top talent on hand from England, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Australia and Africa -- many of whom will be based out in Russia for the tournament -- to analyse each and every one of the 64 matches.
We'll score our experts just as we do in the Match Predictor -- 10 points for correct result, with a bonus 20 points for getting the scoreline right too. Who will come out on top?
MATCHDAY 14 PREDICTIONS MEX-SWE KOR-GER SRB-BRA SUI-CRC PTS Gab Marcotti 0-1 0-2 1-1 0-0 Raph Honigstein 0-1 0-2 1-2 2-1 Shaka Hislop 1-1 0-3 0-2 2-0 Rafa Ramos 1-2 1-2 1-3 1-1 Herc Gomez 0-0 1-4 1-2 2-1 Kenneth Garay 2-1 1-3 1-3 2-1 Leonardo Bertozzi 2-1 0-3 0-2 1-0 John Sutcliffe 0-0 1-2 0-3 1-1 Javier Trejo Garay 2-1 0-2 0-1 2-2 Miguel Pasquel 2-1 0-2 1-2 1-1
ESPN Experts panel:
ESPN FC: Gab Marcotti, Raphael Honigstein, Shaka Hislop
ESPN Deportes: Rafa Ramos, Herc Gomez, Kenneth Garay
ESPN Brasil: Leonardo Bertozzi
ESPN Mexico: John Sutcliffe, Javier Trejo Garay, Miguel Pasquel
VASILY MAXIMOV/Getty Images
Mexico can finish atop a World Cup group stage table for the first time since 2002 by earning a single point Wednesday when it takes on Sweden in a Group F matchup at Ekaterinburg Arena.
El Tri opened up its World Cup schedule with a pair of victories, including a shocking 1-0 upset of Germany as +600 underdogs. Conversely, Sweden will be desperate for points as it seeks to avoid elimination following its heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Germany on Saturday as a +550 bet.
World Cup betting line: Mexico opened as a +118 favorite (wager $100 to win $118); the total is at 2.5 goals, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)
World Cup betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 1.8-1.4, Mexico (2018 World Cup picks on every game)
Check out the OddsShark FC podcast on iTunes or at OddsSharkFC.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week’s top World Cup betting news.
Mexico vs. Sweden World Cup matchup analysis
Mexico has emerged as one of the surprise stories of this edition of the World Cup and has seen its World Cup championship odds soar after clinching a berth in the knockout stage with last Saturday's 2-1 win over South Korea as -150 chalk.
However, El Tri cannot afford to rest on its laurels in Wednesday's clash with Sweden. A first-place finish in Group F could enable the Mexicans to avoid a Round of 16 clash with Group E favorites Brazil, clearing the path for a deep run in the knockout stage.
Sweden returns to action likely in need of three points in Wednesday's contest after letting a draw with Germany slip away in the dying moments of Saturday's match. While Sweden sits level with the defending champions on the Group F table, it comes up short on tiebreakers.
In addition, Sweden has struggled with inconsistency in the months since its stunning ouster of Italy in UEFA World Cup qualifying, amassing a 2-4-3 win-draw-loss record in its past nine across all competitions. But the Swedes have enjoyed previous success against Mexico, keeping clean sheets in three of four previous dates with El Tri, including a 1-0 victory when these two sides last met in a 2009 friendly.
All 2018 World Cup odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.
