Panama Copa America 2024 squad guide: With substance and style, could they surprise?

They is perhaps one of many weaker sides at this summer time’s event, however constructive steps beneath their progressive coach counsel Panama may spring one thing of a shock.

How one can comply with Euro 2024 and Copa America on The Athletic…

The supervisor

Thomas Christiansen was born in Denmark however moved to Spain as an adolescent — the nation the place his mom was born. He joined Barcelona aged 18 in 1991, when Johan Cruyff was halfway via his ‘Dream Group’ interval as supervisor — which introduced 4 successive La Liga titles between 1991 and 1994 in addition to the membership’s first European Cup in 1992.

A centre-forward in his enjoying days, Christiansen solely featured twice for Barca’s first crew however he did symbolize Spain internationally, profitable two caps.

Now 51, he was a shock rent for Panama in 2020 after spells at Union Saint-Gilloise (2019-20) in Belgium and Leeds United (2017-18) within the English Championship, the place he was dismissed after half a season in cost. Some noticed his Panama crew failing to safe qualification for the 2022 World Cup as regression, given the nation had made the 2018 finals, however over time the positives have grown.

Influenced by his youth with Barcelona, Christiansen’s Panama have developed right into a ball-dominant crew incorporating positional play from a 3-4-3 formation. However they’ve additionally added substance to that fashion.

On the best way to reaching the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup ultimate, they beat Qatar 4-0 and knocked out a weakened United States crew on penalties. They missed out on the trophy after a 1-0 defeat by Mexico, however ending fourth within the 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League was additionally seen as a great achievement.

GO DEEPER

How Thomas Christiansen has introduced Cruyff’s ideology to Panama

“Think about how superior and the way completely different (Cruyff) noticed soccer,” Christiansen advised The Athletic in March. “With time and with all that information, you perceive what he was in search of. That’s the kind of methodology that we need to implement with Panama.

“We all know that that is going to be an extended course of. There will probably be good and dangerous moments. Proper now, we’re having fun with the great moments.”

The family identify you haven’t heard of but

When Inter Miami confronted Houston Dynamo in final 12 months’s U.S. Open Cup ultimate, there was a race in Panama to safe the TV rights. In fact, a sure No 10 in Miami instructions consideration at any time when he performs, however there was a specific native curiosity for this event.

Offering the inventive spark for Dynamo of their 2-1 victory in October was Adalberto ‘Coco’ Carrasquilla, the rising star of Panamanian soccer.

Carrasquilla is the rising star of Panama’s crew (Martin Bernetti/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

While you flick Panama on throughout the Copa America this summer time, Carrasquilla would be the first participant to catch your eye. The 25-year-old dances via midfield with a poise and athleticism that can maintain your eyes glued to the display. Even when it appears to be like like he’s about to lose the ball, he drops a shoulder and shifts previous his man.

He was named participant of the event eventually 12 months’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. Now the face of the Dynamo and his nationwide crew, it appears inevitable {that a} transfer to Europe or one of many large golf equipment of the Americas will probably be on the playing cards. If he impresses this summer time, it could come before later.

Strengths

Underneath Christiansen, Panama have a transparent identification.

Whereas qualifying for his or her first World Cup in 2018 was an enormous achievement for a growing nation of 4.4million individuals, they misplaced all three matches in Russia — to England, Belgium and Tunisia — by an combination rating of 11-2. The 6-1 defeat by England was significantly bruising, highlighting that they must evolve from the aggressive fashion employed beneath Hernan Gomez to be aggressive on the highest stage.

Panama now line up in a structured 3-4-3, with tempo in large positions complimented by physicality and technical high quality in central areas.

Whereas they’ve turn out to be accustomed to dominating possession in CONCACAF, the elevated stage of opposition at Copa America might immediate Christiansen to instruct his gamers to give up the ball however their understanding of the construction ought to make this transition seamless.

Weaknesses

This event may even see Carrasquilla emerge as a real top-level expertise, however it will likely be tough for him to hold the burden. Past marauding proper wing-back Michael Amir Murillo, who made 16 league appearances and scored three targets for Marseille final season, Panama don’t have any gamers in Europe’s prime 5 leagues.

Murillo (left) celebrating a aim with Panama final 12 months (Leonardo Munoz/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

In opposition to elite groups equivalent to Uruguay, Panama’s first opponents on June 24, Christiansen’s facet will possible sit again and hit on the break. With out first-class gamers in attacking positions, they could battle to reap the benefits of the few probabilities the crew will get.

Factor you didn’t know

After beating Costa Rica 2-1 to safe qualification for the 2018 World Cup, Juan Carlos Varela, then president of Panama, declared a nationwide vacation to commemorate the achievement.

Roman Torres, who scored the 87th-minute winner, is now thought of a nationwide hero. His face was emblazoned throughout billboards, bus stops and sports activities outlets all through Panama Metropolis, the nation’s capital. Capped 120 occasions, Torres was Panama’s highest-profile and most recognisable participant till he retired from worldwide soccer in 2019.

Expectations again dwelling

Panama are among the many weakest groups on the event, so few followers anticipate them to progress previous the group levels. Uruguay and the U.S. are significantly stronger, but when Panama had been to by some means snatch a draw towards both of them, progress may come all the way down to whether or not they can beat Bolivia, a crew of comparable standing.

Panama’s Copa America squad

Goalkeepers: Luis Mejia (Nacional), Cesar Samudio (Marathon), Orlando Mosquera (Maccabi Tel Aviv).

Defenders: Eduardo Anderson (Saprissa), Jose Cordoba (Norwich Metropolis), Eric Davis (Kosice), Ivan Anderson (Fortaleza), Michael Amir Murillo (Marseille), Cesar Blackman (Slovan Bratislava), Edgardo Farina (Municipal), Roderick Miller (Turan Tovuz), Omar Valencia (NY Crimson Bulls).

Midfielders: Anibal Godoy (Nashville), Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo), Cristian Martinez (Al Jandal), Jose Luis Rodriguez (Famalicao), Edgar Barcenas (Mazatlan), Jovani Welch (Academico Viseu), Freddy Gondola (Maccabi Bnei Reineh), Carlos Harvey (Minnesota), Adiel Ayarza (Cienciano), Cesar Yanis (San Carlos), Kahiser Lenis (Jaguares de Cerdoba).

Forwards: Ismael Diaz (Universidad Catolica), Jose Fajardo (Universidad Catolica), Eduardo Guerrero (Zorya Luhansk).

(High picture: Matthew Ashton – AMA, Shaun Clark by way of Getty Photographs, design by John Bradford)