Colombia lock horns with Panama in a highly anticipated Copa America quarter-final on Saturday, July 6th, at State Farm Stadium in Arizona. The winner of this clash will progress to the semi-finals to face the victor between Uruguay and Brazil.
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Colombia on a Roll
Colombia enters the knockout stages with momentum, having topped Group D with a perfect record (seven points from three games). They secured convincing victories against Paraguay and Costa Rica before battling to a hard-fought draw against South American giants Brazil. This unbeaten run extends to manager Nestor Lorenzo’s entire tenure, with 17 wins and six draws in his 23 matches at the helm. Ranked 12th in the world, Colombia boasts a strong recent record in the Copa America, reaching the semi-finals twice in the last three tournaments. They’ll be looking to continue their dominance against Panama, having won their last two encounters with a combined score of 7-0.
Panama Makes History
After failing to advance from the group stage in their Copa America debut (2016), Panama has etched their name in history by reaching the knockout rounds for the first time. They finished second in Group C with six points, showcasing resilience after losing their opening match to eventual group winners Uruguay. Panama bounced back with impressive victories against the host nation USA and Bolivia. The 3-1 win against Bolivia saw super-subs Eduardo Guerrero and Cesar Yanis score crucial goals in the final minutes to secure their historic qualification.
Panama’s Rise Under Christiansen
Panama’s success can be attributed in part to the guidance of former Leeds United boss Thomas Christiansen. Since his appointment in 2020, Panama has climbed a staggering 38 places in the FIFA World Rankings to 43rd. They head into the match with confidence, having won 10 of their last 15 international fixtures. However, their last victory against Colombia came all the way back in July 2005 during the Gold Cup.
Team News and Possible Lineups
Colombia will be without suspended midfielder Jefferson Lerma. Mateus Uribe is expected to fill the void alongside Richard Rios and Jhon Arias in a three-man midfield. Jhon Lucumi remains a doubt in defense due to injury. Upfront, the decision between Jhon Cordoba, Rafael Santos Borre, and Chelsea-linked Jhon Duran is still up in the air.
Panama will miss the suspended Adalberto Carrasquilla due to a red card. Jovani Welch is likely to retain his spot in central midfield alongside Cristian Martinez. Cesar Blackman and Edgar Barcenas will aim to provide width on the flanks. Roderick Miller faces competition from Carlos Harvey for a starting spot in central defense alongside Jose Cordoba and Edgardo Farina.
Colombia (Possible Starting Lineup): Vargas; Munoz, Sanchez, Cuesta, Mojica; Rios, Uribe, Arias; Rodriguez, Cordoba, Diaz
Panama (Possible Starting Lineup): Mosquera; Murillo, Farina, Cordoba, Harvey, Davies; Blackman, Martinez, Welch, Barcenas; Fajardo
Prediction:
Colombia enters the match as favorites, but Panama shouldn’t be underestimated. With both teams in good form, an exciting encounter is on the horizon. We predict a narrow 2-1 victory for Colombia