Panama makes its first World Cup appearance with the oldest squad in the finals and, unsurprisingly, it seems every pundit is writing off the minnow. A result against Group G rivals Belgium or England would mark one of the biggest shocks in the tournament's history.
At the very least, Panama will make the most of its Russian adventure, if its celebrations after securing qualification are anything to go by.
"It was just a complete party. People went out on the streets, every single major road was closed. All the 24-hour supermarkets were inundated and the beer was all sold out within 40 minutes," Gary Stempel, a FIFA instructor and current manager of Panama Under-17s, told theScore.
"If you weren't a football fan and wanted to get home, forget it. It was practically impossible. You had to wait until early morning before people decided to clear the roads. The police did nothing, the president declared a day off. It was mayhem but it was a great emotional mayhem."
Group stage schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time |
|---|---|---|
| June 18 | Belgium | 11:00 a.m. ET |
| June 24 | England | 8:00 a.m. ET |
| June 28 | Tunisia | 2:00 p.m. ET |
Projected starting XI
A big debate back in Panama is who to choose up front: 21-year-old Ismael Diaz or 37-year-old Blas Perez? Given that Los Canaleros lack pace, particularly through the middle, the former should be selected to bring more energy to the team's rare attacks.
Other talking points are whether to field Gabriel Torres or Jose Luis Rodriguez on the left flank, who to choose at right-back between veteran Adolfo Machado and the promising Michael Amir Murillo, and whether Felipe Baloy has the legs to partner Roman Torres at centre-back?
Related: Full squad lists for each nation
Key player: Gabriel Torres
"Although I think he can be a little bit inconsistent on his day, I think all the Panamanian players will be on their (best) day for this tournament. He can cause a lot of problems. I don't see much pace in the England backline," Stempel said.
Torres will have to fight for a starting berth in Russia, but when he does feature he should be an instrumental cog in Panama's rare attacks. He was one of the heroes in the incredible 2-1 defeat of Costa Rica to secure World Cup qualification.
Breakout star: Michael Amir Murillo
Murillo could be benched as Hernan Dario Gomez seems to prefer the experience of Machado at right-back, but it would be a shame if the New York Red Bulls man didn't get a decent run during the World Cup. His acceleration is something few of his international teammates can offer, and an aspect that may attract onlooking scouts.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
