By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun
ANKARA
Panama will participate for the first time in the football World Cup, where they will take on England, Belgium and Tunisia in Group G.
Panama managed to book their ticket to Russia 2018 on the last day of CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) qualifiers.
They managed to beat Costa Rica 2-1 on their final match of the group, collecting 13 points and managed to finish at 3rd place.
Most of Panama players are playing in the U.S. Major League Soccer, while their best player is Ismael Diaz who plays for Deportivo La Coruna.
Panama's confirmed 23-men squad:
Goalkeepers: Jose Calderon (Chorrillo), Jaime Penedo (Dinamo Bucharest), Alex Rodriguez (San Francisco)
Defenders: Felipe Baloy (CSD Municipal), Harold Cummings (San Jose Earthquakes), Eric Davis (DAC Dunajska Streda), Fidel Escobar (New York Red Bulls), Adolfo Machado (Houston Dinamo), Michael Murillo (New York Red Bulls), Luis Ovalle (CD Olimpia), Roman Torres (Seattle Sounders)
Midfielders: Edgar Barcenas (Cafetaleros de Tapachula), Armando Cooper (Club Universidad de Chile), Anibal Godoy (San Jose Earthquakes), Gabriel Gomez (Bucaramanga), Valentin Pimentel (Plaza Amador), Alberto Quintero (Universitario de Lima), Jose Luis Rodriguez (Gent)
Forwards: Abdiel Arroyo (LD Alajuelense), Ismael Diaz (Deportivo La Coruna), Blas Perez (CSD Municipal), Luis Tejada (Sports Boys), Gabriel Torres (CD Huachipato)
Manager: Hernan Dario Gomez
