The 2024 Copa America heats up on Thursday as the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) takes on Panama at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The home side will be looking to secure their place in the knockout stages after a comfortable opening victory, while Panama needs a result to avoid early elimination.
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Match Preview:
Panama pushed Uruguay in their first match but conceded two late goals to lose 3-1. This defeat marked their second consecutive loss. The Panamanians will be determined to avoid a third straight defeat, a feat they haven’t experienced under coach Thomas Christiansen since taking charge in 2020.
However, the USA will be a tough opponent. The young American squad, with an average age of just under 26, dominated their opening match against Bolivia, winning 2-0. This victory extended their winning streak in the Copa America group stage to three, with each of those wins coming without conceding a goal.
Historically, the encounters between these two CONCACAF rivals have been close. Panama even emerged victorious in the most recent meeting, defeating the USA on penalties in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-finals. However, the USA holds the upper hand when playing at home, with their only loss to Panama on home soil coming in the 2011 Gold Cup.
Team News:
Panama made changes to their starting lineup for their opening match, introducing three new faces: Edgardo Farina, Jose Luis Rodriguez, and Adalberto Carrasquilla (who plays for the Houston Dynamo). The USA also saw some rotation, with Tyler Adams returning to the starting eleven and Giovanni Reyna extending his run of starts to four.
Predicted Lineups:
- Panama: Mosquera; Murillo, Farina, Cordoba, Miller, Davis; Rodriguez, Welch, Carrasquilla, Barcenas; Fajardo
- USA: Turner; Scally, Ream, Richards, A. Robinson; Reyna, Musah, McKennie; Weah, Balogun, Pulisic
Prediction:
The youthful exuberance of the USA team is expected to be a deciding factor. While Panama can cause problems, a narrow 1-0 victory for the home side seems likely.