Preview

It is second round of Pan American U19 men handball championship and
hosts Chile after yesterday huge 38:12 win against USA will met as big
favorites Mexico which lost on the start by Brazil 21:33.I was surprised
by offered handicap since don’t find quality difference between that big
beside Chile is playing at home. Both nations met each other plenty of
times in different categories u19,U21 or senior and I could not find
game where Chile defeat Mexico higher than today spread. Actual y I
found draw , and few Chile wins by 5 ,8,9 difference and definitely
today spread is forced by Chile first round huge win over USA. But
should not forget that before the game Chile was set just 4 goals
favorite and final result doesn’t look like real reelection of Chile
power but rather reflection of USA weakness. Game started equal and
after some 20minutes USA was even in 9:8 lead but Chile used and of
first half to achieve 16:11 advantage. In second half happened something
amazing and probably not repeatable since Chile won it 22:1. IT was
total collapse of USA team which was reported as not prepared well
physically, but also looks like they surrender after notice game will be
lost and decide to save some power for today game with Paraguay where
have more chance to do something. Chile used it well and decide to
destroy them on enjoyment of fans, but something similar will not happen
to Mexico, which looked as much better prepared team at least that was
impression they left after first roun. They do lost big by Brazil but it
was much lower than what was expected by bookies which set them some 30
goals underdogs. The reason for such setting is that Brazil isultimate
best Pan American team in all categories , youth, Junior or senior and
are dominating and destroying all teams by huge margin and often even
final against Argentina are easy won. But against Brazil Mexico show
great resistance and lost by just 12 which is today spread against much
weaker team of CHile and I expect another cover of handicap by Mexicans.
They had strong start against Brazil and even leading 4:6 but later
happened big Brazil run to 10 difference lead 16:6 which stayed after
first half 19:9. Now happened interesting thing and it is that unlike
other weak teams that usually collapse in second half something that
beside to USA happened also to Puerto Rico against Argentina, Mexcico
didn’t collapse in second half against bets team on the tournament. They
played even better than in first half and keep the distance loosing
second half by just 2 difference on 14:12 score and sowing good
mentality hut also readiness for tough battles. Encouraged by this
performance and with raised confidence I expect from them another strong
display tonight against hosts of the tournament which poses quality but
are far away from Brazil and should have trohbles to achieve easy win
like yesterday. Actually yesterday big win over USA could make this
young Chile players overconfident, thinking will be easy again and this
is chance for Mexico who looks to have good generation this tournament.
If they where able to score more than 20 against Brazil are well capable
to repeat same against Chile and if USA was able to score 11 in first
half Mexico is capable to repeat it in both halves. On the other side if
we don’t take too much in consideration Chile 22 second half goals
against USA from which 10 scored in last 10 minutes than their reality
against USA was around 16 goals per half and against better prepared
Mexico could be less. So my reasoning is Mexico over 20 and Chile below
32 and this creates the pick.