Copa America 2024 Group Stage
25 June, 2024 - Indian Date
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
MATCH TIMES
India
03:30 AM
UAE
02:00 AM
Saudi Arabia
1:00 AM
FULL TIME
Panama possible starting lineup: Mosquera; Murillo, Farina, Cordoba, Miller, Davis; Rodriguez, Welch, Carrasquilla, Barcenas; Fajardo
USA possible starting lineup: Turner; Scally, Ream, Richards, A. Robinson; Reyna, Musah, McKennie; Weah, Balogun, Pulisic
Two Concacaf teams familiar with each other, the United States and Panama, will face off in their second match of the CONMEBOL Copa América at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. These teams have met regularly since a January 2019 friendly, with Panama's sole victory in their last six encounters coming in the 2023 Gold Cup semi-final via a penalty shootout.
United States' Form and Key Players
The U.S. is coming into this match after a dominant 2-0 win against Bolivia. Christian Pulisic scored early in the third minute, and Folarin Balogun added another goal just before halftime. Despite controlling the game in the second half, the U.S. couldn't extend their lead. Manager Gregg Berhalter will be satisfied with the win but knows there's room for improvement in finishing chances.
A key concern for the U.S. is the fitness of midfielder Tyler Adams, who played 45 minutes in the opener and was substituted as planned. Yunus Musah from AC Milan and Johnny from Real Betis have shown their quality, but neither can match the game-changing influence of Adams. Berhalter will be keen to manage Adams' minutes carefully to ensure his availability for the more critical stages of the tournament.
Panama's Challenges and Strategy
Panama faced a tough opener, losing 3-1 to group favorites Uruguay, and also suffered a significant blow with the injury to José Luis “Puma” Rodriguez, who sprained his shoulder and will miss the rest of the tournament. This adds to manager Thomas Christiansen's injury woes, with key players like Anibal Godoy, Fidel Escobar, Andrés Andrade, and Cecilio Waterman all missing due to injuries.
Despite these setbacks, Panama's wide defenders, Michael Amir Murillo and Eric Davis, offer some hope. Murillo scored in stoppage time against Uruguay, showcasing his offensive potential. The team will look to Edgar Yoel Barcenas for creativity and rely on do-everything midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla, who needs to step up his game even further if Panama is to upset the U.S.
Tactical Insights and Outlook
The U.S., at full strength, is eager to prove its prowess beyond Concacaf and demonstrate it can compete with the best in the Americas. With a solid defensive line and a potent attack led by Pulisic and Balogun, they will aim to dominate possession and create numerous scoring opportunities.
Panama, on the other hand, will need to compensate for their injuries and rely on their wide defenders for both defensive stability and offensive contributions. Their strategy will likely involve a disciplined defensive approach, coupled with quick counter-attacks to exploit any gaps left by the U.S.
Conclusion
The match promises to be an intense battle, with the U.S. looking to build on their strong start and Panama aiming to overcome adversity and secure their first points of the tournament. The outcome will hinge on how well the U.S. can capitalize on their chances and whether Panama can effectively counteract their injury-induced weaknesses.