Panama vs Canada
World Cup 2022: Panama vs Canada might have been a nervy affair, a dramatic climax to the North American qualifiers, but instead, when the Maple Leafs blow into the Estadio Rommel Fernandez Stadium on Thursday they are set for a celebration.
Les Rouges top the CONCACAF table on 28 points and have already qualified for the World Cup finals while Panama are stranded in fifth and unable to catch Costa Rica in the play-off place. So the party is on for Canada while Panama look on with envy. Los Canaleros come into the game on the back of an almighty thumping at the hands of the USA, while Canada confirmed their place at Qatar 2022 with an impressive 4-0 win over Jamaica.
The pre match Panama vs Canada betting odds say we’re in for a tasty encounter, with the hosts looking to salvage some pride, but Les Rouges can earn themselves a better draw in the finals if they top the CONCACAF group with a win or a draw.
Talking Points
36 years of hurt are over for Canada
However the Panama vs Canada highlights pan out there will be smiling faces in the away dressing room before and after the game, as their resounding victory over Jamaica in Toronto signalled the end of 36 years of frustration for Les Rouges. And now John Herdman will be the first coach to lead Canada to a finals tournament since 1986.
In that year Canada finished bottom of their group without scoring a single goal and I’ll be happy to bet they’ll do better than that in 2022. Herdman’s team has attacked throughout the qualifiers and have scored 23 goals, leading that table too, as record goal scorer Cyle Karin helped himself to 13 goals in qualifying. He can become the joint top scorer of all time in the CONCACAF qualifiers if he can score a brace against Panama. That would bring Larin level with Honduras legend Carlo Pavon who scored 15 goals in the 2002 qualifiers.
Meanwhile Herdman has become a national hero having promised to lead Canada to the World Cup finals in his first campaign as head coach: “I don’t think they believed us,” he said. “I’m happy for them because all of these fans have waited and waited and waited, and hung in with us – and we’re going. They believe now.”
Panama sunk by Pulisic
They had a chance to keep their World Cup hopes flickering when they travelled to the USA on Sunday but Los Canaleros blew it big style, though there was little many teams could have done to stop the Stars and Stripes’ star Christian Pulisic score a hat-trick in the 5-1 trouncing. He scored his first two goals from the penalty spot, but his third was a piece of magic as he took a cross from Antonee Robinson before spinning around Fidel Escobar and sliding the ball through his own legs and into the net. His home club Chelsea is in a period of turmoil at the moment, but Pulisic showed no signs of concern in a masterful display which ended Panama’s hopes once and for all. Thomas Christiansen’s side was in a strong position at the start of this sequence of games but a home draw with Honduras and the defeat to the USA spelt the end; and they now have one last chance to give their fans something to cheer about against Canada.
Los Canaleros have played with aggression and enthusiasm throughout the campaign, but they may find it difficult to recover in time for the visit of the table toppers.
History
Les Rouges have had the better of the head to head results with four wins, seven draws and one defeat in their 12 encounters with Panama. Canada won the previous meeting 4-1 with a second half flurry of goals after Rolando had opened the scoring for Panama, before an own goal levelled the scores at the break. Alphonso Davies, Tajon Buchanan and Jonathan David all got on the score sheet as Les Rouges marched to victory.
Panama have been hard to beat on home soil though, last losing on their own turf back in 2019, when Mexico ran out 3-0 winners.
Betting Tip
At an SBOTOP price of 4.34 to win, Panama can restore some pride, while a draw is available at odds of 2.99. But I think Los Canaleros had the stuffing knocked out of them by the Stars and Stripes, while Canada are riding a wave on the way to Qatar and the party will carry on in Panama.
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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