Mexico and Venezuela will target top place and with it most likely avoid a quarterfinal clash with Argentina when the two teams meet in the Copa America Centenario on Monday. With both teams already sealing their place in the last-eight, this match is all about the who will finish first and who will take the runners-up spot.
While Mexico were expected to do well in the group, Venezuela have been the surprise packages, with their two wins in two matches putting one of the favourites for the title – Uruguay – out of the tournament.
If Venezuela are to look further than the quarterfinals, they could use another confidence-booster by beating a really well-drilled Mexico side, who, like Venezuela, have also won both their matches in the Copa America Centenario – against Uruguay and Jamaica.
"Regardless of who we get, like if we played the world champions, Venezuela will give the same," striker Josef Martinez was quoted as saying by Goal.com. "We are going to play toe-to-toe with anyone, we came here to leave the name of Venezuela up high."
If they are to do that, a win over Mexico would be nice, but it is going to be far from easy, considering the form that Juan Carlos Osorio's team are in and the support they are likely to get in Houston. When Mexico play in the US, it, more often than not, feels like a home game for them, and the CONCACAF team will want to end the group stages with a perfect record.
"We are not surprised at all that Venezuela is playing this way because there are many players who are in Europe, who have been standing out," Mexico forward Oribe Peralta was quoted by ESPN.in. "For us, it is important to ensure first place in the group on Monday because we know the capability of our opponents.
"But in the Copa you have to beat whoever is in front of you and the team is very committed and aware of what is needed."
Where to Watch Live
Mexico vs Venezuela is set for an 8 p.m. ET (1 a.m. BST, 5.30 a.m. IST) start. All the live straming and TV options are below.
India: TV: Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD. Live Streaming: Sony Liv.
Mexico: TV: Univision, TDN, Azteca.
USA: TV: Fox Sports. Live Streaming: FoxSoccer2Go.
South America/Latin America: TV: DirecTV. Live Streaming: DirecTV live.
Brazil: TV: SporTV.
UK: TV: Premier Sports. Live Streaming: Premier Player.
Canada: Univision.
Australia, France and Spain: TV: Bein Sports. Live Streaming: Bein Sports Connect.
China and Hong Kong: TV: PPTV Sports and LeTV.
Singapore: Singtel. Live Streaming: Singtel Go.
Thailand: TrueSport 1.
