I will begin this not by looking at the results or the individual Panamanian team players, but by trying to extrapolate the philosophy and the mental make up of what is driving this team so far. Here are some thoughts from the coach that may provide some idea as to this team's beliefs:
First the coach: Jose “Cheché” Hernandez is the Colombian-born coach of a country more known for its canal than its soccer. He is in charge of a squad with wily veterans and a base of youngsters that qualified for the FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates in 2003 and ready to make noise with the senior team.
Your next opponents are Trinidad & Tobago, a side not in the best of form. How do you go into a game like that?
I always try to instil the idea in my players that no team is more important than any other. We're on a mission where there are no stronger or weaker sides. It's like our approach to friendlies: we take them as seriously as a competitive match. It's undeniable that players will be more fired up against some teams, but I try to remain above that kind of thing so that we don't fall into the trap of over-confidence.
It will be Leo Beenhakker's first game in charge of T&T. Do you have any thoughts on that?
We're well aware of his record as a coach and there's no doubting that he's got what it takes to lead a national side. But it's something which doesn't concern me or my team. I can't say any more than that really.
Panama have been through a lot to get to this six-nation final qualifying group. What are your feelings when you look back at all that has happened?
We've come a long way and that has helped to confirm our belief that we stand a chance and that it's worth fighting for. When I look back, I see that the hard work that we've put in has borne fruit. But I think we'll need a few years to truly appreciate what we've done in this campaign. I'm not surprised by the results, though. I think it's normal that things have turned out the way that they have.
How are you working on the players' mental approach as you prepare for the final push?
Now is not the time to change anything that we've done so far. Our work is based on belief in ourselves, the will to win and hope. It's just a matter of reaffirming those ideas. It's not about changing them.
Until now, Panama had only ever qualified for the FIFA World Youth Championship UAE 2003. Now they're battling for a place at Germany 2006. Are we witnessing the emergence of a new generation of players in the country?
There's certainly a fresh generation of players coming through. It's only natural. But I think that the real change in Panamanian football will come when we get a truly resounding result. Then we can work on the entire structure of the sport in Panama, with different planning and working methods.
And how do you mean to achieve that?
By qualifying for the World Cup! (laughs).
What is the key to qualifying?
We have to maintain the simplicity and humility with which we've played until now. When you get a result like the one against Mexico, it's easy for the public and media to get carried away by the euphoria and it ends up affecting the players. We have to keep our feet on the ground. It was just a point, after all.
Can you imagine what might happen if Panama do make it to Germany 2006?
I don't think we're truly aware of what we achieve when we're actually doing it. That comes with the passing of time. If we do finally do it, it will be in the future when I tell my children, or my grandchildren. History is what makes you open your eyes
Now having read the above, I believe that:
This press released is very much 'guarded' by no means is this all revealing but what it does show is a 'peep' into some of the beliefs which are at the surface of this campaign for Panama. This WCQ is about a legacy, a defining point for a nation, it's about the emergence of a new era. Points which could also apply to TNT.
Starting with this general overview, I invite others to begin providing specifics about this team's strengths and weaknessess. Let's break this down and deconstruct the elements of this team's performance thus far and see what we (TNT) need to work aganist to get a positive result. Ok all you TNT football experts; leh we beging doing some work to help out LEO and Phillips.[/i]
Let's consider facts:
Panama lost to CR despite CR being short handed.
Panama ties Mexico despite Mexico being short handed.
CR ties TNT.
Do you think that these are suffucuent to predict any kinds of results?
In their own way, Panama are the most anonymous team in the region. But what about Panama? Everyone's heard of Panama, if only for the canal, and everyone knows they must play football. But is there anyone out there who knows how good they are? Who can give any of their results in recent competitions? Who can supply even one fact about Panamanian football?
The fact is, Panama just about defines football mediocrity. They're not really bad: they've been in the region's final 12 the last two WCQ cycles, they've always been better than minnow Nicaragua, and over the years they've claimed a scalp or two against the stronger Central American teams. But they're not very good, either: they have yet to make any sort of impact on the Gold Cup, they've never finished in the top 3 in UNCAF, and the only team they've beaten in the round of 12 has been Cuba.
For 87 minutes back in the summer of 2000, it appeared all this might change. Earlier in the year Panama had played well in an early WC qualifying stage, and they were hosting Mexico in the opening game of the semifinal round. Expectations were high--and the team didn't disappoint. They were brilliant, holding off the opposition with ease, controlling midfield, attacking with verve and creativity. They just couldn't get the ball in the net. And as so often happens, they lost: in the 88th minute, Ramón Ramirez of Mexico got a rare scoring chance, and converted it. The final was 0:1, and Panama collapsed. They managed only one draw in the next five games, and wound up with a GF/GA of 1:16.
Since then, same old story: a few wins, a few losses, some encouragement, some frustration. Their biggest disappointment was the 2003 UNCAF tournament, held in Panama for the first time, at which the team was expected to make history. But they bombed, winning only one of five games, finishing tied for fourth with Honduras--and in the final indignity, they lost the coin flip for a spot in the repechage for the Gold Cup.
But believe it or not, the canaleros have a future. With the American influence waning, football is slowly assuming greater importance. In 2003, for the very first time, the U-20's qualified for the FIFA world championship. In the regional qualifiers for Athens 2004, Panama made it into the final 8, and even beat Canada in their group stage game. Defender Felipe Baloy has crashed the most foreigner-resistant league of all, playing for Gremio in Brazil. The team has had some excellent results in the runup: a scoreless draw at Honduras, a 4:1 home win against Bermuda, a surprise 2:0 win at Guatemala. They're not going to become a power overnight, but it may not be long before you'll know a fact or two about them.
Key player: Player To Watch:
The legend of Panamanian football is Julio Dely Valdes but the new face of Panamanian football is Roberto Brown. The Austrian based striker leads the team 5 goals scored and has had tryouts with teams in Portugal.
