Fansided

One reason every team at the World Cup can win

By Ty Finch

MOSCOW, RUSSIA DECEMBER 1, 2017: Winner's trophy at the Final Draw for 2018 FIFA World Cup at the State Kremlin Palace. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images)
MOSCOW, RUSSIA DECEMBER 1, 2017: Winner's trophy at the Final Draw for 2018 FIFA World Cup at the State Kremlin Palace. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images) /
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LUZERN, SWITZERLAND – MARCH 27: Roman Torres of Panama during the International Friendly match between Switzerland v Panama at the Luzern Arena on March 27, 2018 in Luzern Switzerland (Photo by Erwin Spek/Soccrates/Getty Images)
LUZERN, SWITZERLAND – MARCH 27: Roman Torres of Panama during the International Friendly match between Switzerland v Panama at the Luzern Arena on March 27, 2018 in Luzern Switzerland (Photo by Erwin Spek/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

Panama: Complete “CONCACAF’ing”

Panama just recently lost 6-0 to Switzerland in a tune-up for the World Cup. Now, Switzerland are not, by any means, a bad team. They have more talent than about half of the teams in the World Cup, and could make a run to the late stages of the tournament if things break their way. Still. Losing six to nothing to a team that isn’t Germany, Brazil, France or the like? And there’s only a few more months to get the squad ready for Belgium and England in the group stage? Phew. Hernan Gomez has a lot to think about.

Panama will enter the World Cup for the first time in their history in 2018. They’re ranked 53rd in the world, only ahead of similar long shots Saudi Arabia, Russia, South Korea and Japan. Long-shots is hardly a pejorative term for them, either. In fact, it may be a compliment. Getting out of Group G would be treated as a World Cup win would be in Germany. They don’t have much of a shot.

Unless, of course, they go the route of complete and utter CONCACAF’ing. To those not familiar with the wild and wonderful world of CONCACAF, CONCACAF’ing is a disparaging term that encompasses bad refereeing, horrendous pitches, turning a blind-eye to tackles that should be red-carded, time wasting in the first half and generally flabbergasting decisions on a regular basis.

Panama know all about how to CONCACAF their opponents. They might as well embrace it at the World Cup. It’s their best shot at winning anything.

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