2018 World Cup Odds and Prediction: Panama Team Betting Preview

They have the longest World Cup odds to win the tournament, along with Saudi Arabia. Not much is expected of them but this is still a major boost for the future of Panamanian soccer.

2018 Panama World Cup Betting Odds

Odds to Advance: +750 Yes To Advance, -2000 No To Advance
Odds to Win World Cup: +90800 To Win World Cup
0 World Cup Wins/Best World Cup finish: N/A
FIFA world ranking: 55
Manager: Hernan Dario Gomez
Captain: Roman Torres

Panama Players to Watch

Goalkeeper Jaime Penedo has 130 appearances for his country and plays for Dinamo Bucuresti in Romania. It will be largely up to Penedo to keep Panama in games. Forwards Blas Perez and Luis Tejada both have 43 goals each for Panama, although Tejada will likely come off the bench.

Panama World Cup Formation and Projected Starting 11

Formation: 4-4-2
Goalkeeper: Jaime Penedo
Defense: Felipe Baloy, Ramon Torres, Adolfo Machado, Luis Ovaille
Midfield: Alberto Quintero, Anibal Godoy, Gabriel Gomez, Edgar Barcenas
Forwards: Gabriel Torres, Blas Perez

Panama Strengths

While they do not have World Cup experience, this team has been together for a long time now. Captain and defender Roman Torres has 110 appearances for his country while fellow defender Felipe Baloy has 102 appearances. Midfielder Gabriel Gomez has 143 appearances for Panama, leading a group of four midfielders that have at least 88 appearances. Up front, Perez has 117 appearances, Tejada has 105 appearances and Gabriel Torres has 71 appearances. This is not a team that will be afraid of the big stage.

Panama Weaknesses

They do have plenty of experience, that is for sure. But Panama just does not have the top-line talent to compete for wins at the World Cup just yet. Of the players mentioned above, only Gabriel Torres is under 30 (at 29 years old). Everyone else is between 32 and 37 years old, including Penedo, who is 36. This is an old team and not a very talented one. That’s not a good blend.

Panama News

After coming close to getting here in 2014, Panama finally made it to the World Cup. But they would do well to keep expectations low. Earning a point against Tunisia would be a success for this team.

Panama Betting Prediction

The best-case scenario for Panama is that they don’t finish in last place in Group G. Any points that they can pick up will be a huge accomplishment. At +90800 to win the World Cup, it’s obvious that you should stay away from Panama. Betting on them to win Group G would not be a good idea either.

Perez and Gabriel Torres are rated at +50000 to win the Golden Boot as top goal scorer. For the Golden Ball as top player, you will not be able to find odds for any Panamanian players. It would be a waste of a bet anyway.

Panama will hope to put their best foot forward and avoid getting blown out – especially against Belgium. Tunisia is probably their best chance for a point and that is not a good bet, either. However, younger players in Panama now know their team can get to the World Cup and that should inspire future generations of Panamanian soccer.