“Don’t Call us the Worst World Cup Team”: Panama Coach Lashes Out
“Maybe we were last, but are we really the worst team?” Panama coach Hernan Gomez asked.
Panama lost all three of its matches in its World Cup debut and then its coach took offense when it was suggested that the team was the worst at the tournament.
The Central American team closed out its time in Russia with a 2-1 loss to Tunisia on 28 June. Egypt was the only other team to lose all three of its games.
When asked why some were calling his team the worst at this World Cup, Panama coach Hernan Gomez got angry.
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Primarily known as a country for producing baseball players and boxers, soccer is only just catching on in Panama. Gomez said that Panama lacks soccer fields, strong club competitions and the infrastructure to compete at the top level at the moment.
"Please don't call us the worst team," he said. "We are not the worst team. We are a team that is learning and growing. I think you need to respect our team much more."
Panama, which had the fifth-oldest team at the tournament by average age, lost 3-0 to Belgium and 6-1 to England in their first two matches in World Cup history. On Monday, 25 June, the Canaleros opened the scoring against Tunisia, but later conceded their 10th and 11th goals in the tournament.
Panama scored only twice in Russia, but their fans celebrated both goals as if they had won a match. Panama's win on the last day of qualifying helped keep the US national team out of the World Cup.
"Maybe if we were look at the history and the backdrop of other countries, we can't really be called the worst, worst team," Gomez said. "I think you need to compare everything, not only compare the scores.
"You need to compare the backdrop, the history... Bear that all in mind before you call us the worst team."
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