U.S.A Plays Cuba in World Cup Betting

The United States soccer team will be favored in their qualifying World Cup betting match on Saturday at Cuba but they will not relish the surroundings. It is the first match for the U.S.A in Cuba in 61 years. "We're not going there to be political," Landon Donovan said, "I'm not going there to make any political statements. I'm going there to play and try to win. That (political) part of it is real, but the reason we're there is to play soccer. And that's what we have to remember." The U.S. is coming off a 1-0 win over Guatemala in qualifying while Cuba lost to Trinidad and Tobago 3-1.

The last time the U.S. team played in Cuba was in 1947 when they lost 5-2 in soccer odds. Very few U.S. fans will be able to travel to the World Cup betting game because travel to Cuba is restricted. The reception the U.S. team receives in Cuba is likely to be poor. Bookmakers have the United States at +8000 to win in South Africa 2010. "I'm hoping it will be good," midfielder Eddie Lewis said. "But certainly with the political situation between our two countries, we might hear a little more jeers. Not that most guys on our team understand Spanish." Cuba is not thought to have much of a chance against the United States but playing at home should help. "Cubans don't like to lose to the United States," Cuba goalkeeper Dany Luis Quintero said, "The fans are more motivated and we are hoping for a full stadium."

The United States team will try and stay focused and not get distracted with the surroundings. "It's been a real long time so I think for our team, our players, it's a tremendous opportunity," U.S. head coach Bob Bradley said, "It's certainly a unique experience and one everybody is looking forward to. We just need to make sure we keep our concentration on the importance of the game with qualifying for the World Cup." The stadium in Havana is really small and in poor condition but the field should be good. The players and the people surrounding the match just want everyone to worry about soccer, not the political landscape. "The political aspect has nothing to do with it," Luis Hernandez (President of the Cuban Football Association) said, "The U.S. players are just athletes, soccer players, and we are too."