Colombia vs Panama
The 2024 Copa America has already thrown up some superb drama and a couple of shocks, one of which brings perennial underdogs Panama to a quarter-final party with highly fancied Colombia.
In a group containing Uruguay, the United States, and Bolivia, no one outside of Panama really expected Los Canaleros to qualify for the knockout stage, but that’s exactly what they did, finishing second in Group C on six points and setting up this date with a next giant they intend to kill.
At 61st in the FIFA World Rankings, that is some achievement for Panama, and now they face the 17th-placed nation on their upcoming adventure.
But head coach Thomas Christiansen is under no illusions, and his team faces a mountain to climb.
Colombia drew 1-1 with Brazil to top Group D, while Panama beat Bolivia. But Nestor Lorenzo’s Los Cafeteros are unbeaten in 2024 and, before their 1-1 draw with the Selecao, Colombia were on a 10-match winning streak.
Talking Points
Diaz is star quality for Colombia
The latest Copa America 2024 betting odds predict Los Cafeteros can go very deep into this competition, and Lorenzo’s men will be highly confident of beating Panama on Saturday.
Colombia have a host of household names playing for them, but the pick of the crop is undoubtedly Liverpool star Luis Diaz, one of three scorers when Los Cafeteros swept aside Costa Rica last week. He scored the opener before Galatasaray defender Davinson Sanchez made it two, and Krasnador’s Jhon Cordoba completed the rout.
That win booked their spot in the quarter-finals but, arguably their best performance was still to come when they held the mighty Brazil to a 1-1 draw, as Crystal Palace defender Daniel Munoz was on the mark to equalise Raphinha’s early strike.
But once again, it was Diaz who dazzled, stretching the Selecao defence, and he is the man Panama will have to be most wary of.
Diaz has shown in the Premier League that he is a world-class operator, coming up against some of the best wing-backs in the game and invariably winning. He is cool personified when under pressure, converting a penalty against Costa Rica, and his explosive pace and superb trickery make the left winger a joy to watch, particularly for Liverpool fans.
With the legendary James Rodriguez on the right flank and either Cordoba or Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran down the middle, this is a strike force which can fire Los Cafeteros all the way.
Panama’s history makers
While Colombia were one of the highly fancied teams at the start of the competition, Panama have become the disrupters, playing a high energy game and without fear.
After fighting hard but losing their opener against Uruguay, Panama beat hosts USA and then Bolivia, and their win over the Stars and Stripes surely was the biggest of all Copa America 2024 results so far in the competition.
And it was a humiliation for the expectant hosts who also lost to Uruguay and have made a sharp exit from the competition.
Los Canaleros have booked their place in the knockouts for the very first time, and they are determined to enjoy their ride, and Colombia must be wary. After stunning the USA, Panama put on a superb show to beat Bolivia 3-1 to record back-to-back wins and send their fans into dreamland.
Los Canaleros head coach Christiansen managed Leeds United back in 2017, so he understands pressure, but he will do all he can to help his players relax before the biggest game of their lives.
And if they can keep Colombia’s strike force at bay for long enough, the underdogs will try to find striker Jose Fajardo, who has two goals already in the competition.
History
Colombia were Copa America champions back in 2001 and have been at the World Cup six times, reaching the quarter finals in 2014.
Meanwhile, Panama made their one and only World Cup appearance in 2018 and have gone further in this year’s Copa America than ever before.
These two nations have shared the head-to-heads at two wins each, though they have only met once in the last 15 years, a 3-0 win for Colombia in a 2019 friendly.
Recent form has been strong in both camps, as Colombia won five and drew one of the last six, while Panama have won four and lost two.
Betting Tip
At a price of 1.29, Colombia are hot favourites to win this tie, while the draw is at SBOTOP odds of 4.55 and Panama are at 7.52. Los Canaleros will be keen to continue their dream journey, but I fear this will be the end of the road for Christiansen’s men, and 2-0 is the most likely scoreline at a price of 5.32.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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