Panama star Adalberto Carrasquilla could miss World Cup opener against Ghana due to injury
Panama could be without star midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla for large portions of their World Cup opener against Ghana on Wednesday, as the Pumas player continues to recover from a muscular injury sustained while on club duty.
The 27-year-old attacking midfielder, who is widely regarded as Panama's most influential player, has not featured in any of his side's warm-up fixtures due to the injury. However, he was pictured in training on Sunday and could feature off the bench at Toronto Stadium against the Black Stars.
Oldest squad in the tournament
Panama's squad boasts an average age of 31.1 – the oldest in the tournament – and an average of 53.4 caps per player, the second-highest behind Argentina. Head coach Thomas Christiansen has banked on experience with his squad selection as Los Canaleros look to improve on their 2018 World Cup debut, when they exited in the group stage without earning a point.
Predicted formation and lineup
Christiansen, who took over the Panama role in 2019 and is now the nation's longest-serving head coach, is heavily influenced by his time at Barcelona under Johan Cruyff. He is likely to employ a 3-4-2-1 shape, aiming to use possession and shape to stifle much-fancied sides.
Capable of playing at centre-back and in midfield, Carlos Harvey could be Carrasquilla's replacement in midfield on matchday one. Anibal Godoy, the 36-year-old captain and second-oldest player in the Panama squad, is expected to anchor the midfield.
The predicted Panama starting lineup is: Mosquera; Ramos, Cordoba, Andrade; Murillo, Godoy, Harvey, Davis; Rodriguez, Diaz, Fajardo.
Key players
Right wingback Amir Murillo provides attacking verve from the flanks, while Ismael Diaz and Tomas Rodriguez will be able to stretch the pitch with their pace and directness. Jose Fajardo, a consistent goalscorer for Los Canaleros over the past four years, should start in attack.
Carrasquilla leads the charts for most matches and minutes played under Christiansen since the Spaniard took over. The attacking midfielder has the quality to unlock defences with his passing, and his potential absence from the starting lineup would be a significant blow to Panama's hopes.
Recent form
Panama held their own against Brazil in a recent friendly, troubling the fabled South Americans in the opening half before being picked apart 6-2 by their attacking quality in the second period. They recorded a 4-2 victory over the Dominican Republic on June 4, with Tomas Rodriguez scoring in that match.
Coach's ambition
"We want to make history, we want to do something beautiful and improve on what we did before," Christiansen said during the squad presentation at the Administration Building of the Panama Canal.
"We need to support the 26 players chosen for this World Cup. It is a source of pride to represent this national team."
Group L context
Panama will open their Group L campaign against Ghana on June 17 in Toronto, before facing England and Croatia. Everything will come down to the opening game against Ghana if the work and progress under Christiansen in the last few years is to materialise into meaningful results on the biggest stage.
Ranked 33rd in the world, Panama heads into the tournament as the highest-ranked Central American team. The squad has a good mix of goals spread across positions, with Christiansen bringing a structure and definitive playing style that has steadily improved the team's fortunes since he took over when Panama was ranked 87th.
The Black Stars will be wary of a Panama side that has made steady progress, reaching the CONCACAF Nations League final last year and securing an automatic World Cup berth after a 100 per cent record in the second-round qualifiers. The match at Toronto Stadium promises to be a tightly contested affair between two nations seeking their first victory of the tournament.
