Two-time CONCACAF Gold Cup runners-up Panama is set to face lowly CONMEBOL squad Bolivia at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Monday, June 6 to open the Group D competitions of the 2016 Copa América Centenario.
Panama, who is ranked 52nd in the world right now by FIFA, is one of the oldest teams in this summer’s Copa America and has never been known as a contender in the world or continental stage. However, when it comes to regional competitions, Los Canaleros are considered as a perennial challenger, having reached the semis of the last three CONCACAF Gold Cup gold cup tournaments.
They reached the finals twice, in 2005 and 2013, losing to the United States both times, while winning the 2009 Copa Centroamericana over powerhouse team Costa Rica as they kept their competitive tradition in the North and Central Americas and the Caribbean.
In last year’s Gold Cup, the team did not gain any victory in regulation but still came up third overall by winning their knockout games on penalty kicks, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Goalkeeper Jaime Penedo remains to be the team’s best player as head coach Hernán Darío Gómez continues to rely on his squad’s stingy defense to win games.
They had a goalless draw with Venezuela and a 0-2 loss to Brazil in its two pre-tournament friendlies last month.
Meanwhile, Bolivia was a surprise quarterfinalist in last year’s Copa America after it finished second in Group A behind host and eventual champions Chile, via NBC Sports.
They are ranked 79th in the world by FIFA and are second-to-the-last in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualification table, but the team will not be pushovers in this top heavy group.
Last summer’s leading scorer Marcelo Martins Moreno is not available at the moment as he suits up for Chinese Super League side Changchun Yatai, but Bolivar striker Juan Carlos Arce is expected to carry the load.
There is a chance for manager Julio Cesar Baldivieso’s squad to do well this year if they can pull off an upset over Panama and draw either Argentina or Chile, but it would take a miracle to happen.
The predicted result is a 1-0 win for Panama.
Panama starting lineup (4-4-1-1 formation): Penedo; Machado, Baloy, Miller, L. Henriquez; Cooper, Gomez, A. Henriquez, Quintero; Buitrago; Tejada
Bolivia starting lineup (4-1-4-1 formation): Quinonez; Bejarano, Eguino, Zenteno, Gutierrez; Melean; Campos, Smedberg-Dalence, Saucedo, Veizaga; Arce


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