World Cup Predictions

With the start of the 2018 World Cup just one month away, Panama prepares for their first shot at the trophy

Panama qualified for the cup finishing third in the CONCACAF’s Hexagonal round with a 2-1 win against Costa Rica. The highlight of the game, a controversial goal dumbed the “Phantom Goal.” 

With Captain Roman Torres and manager Hernan Dario Gomez Panama heads to the finals with a mix of players from what ESPN called “outgoing Veterans like goalkeeper Jaime Penedo (36 years old), defender Felipe Baloy (37), Blas Perez (37)  and captain Roman Torres (32) and “youth movement charged players like Miguel Camargo (24), Michael Murillo (22) and Ricardo Avila (21).” 

Panama has one main weakness which everyone is aware of, and that is “a complete lack of World Cup experience” as ESPN put it. This is undoubtedly a significant disadvantage. Coupled with the fact that Panama’s Group G includes the European powerhouses Belgium and England, it will surely not be easy for Panama defeat their opponents. 

"My picks to advance to the knockout stage from Group G: Belgium and Panama. I don’t want to appear smug when things go Panama’s way in the World Cup." explains the Panamanian Sports Journalist Julio Shebelut.