The Panamanians are located in the repechage zone with 11 units, but only three points behind Canada, which has the last direct quota.
Panama receives El Salvador on Tuesday with its eyes set on the Concacaf squares that give direct access to Qatar-2022, before a rival that runs out of its last cartridges so as not to be eliminated from the World Cup battle.
The match, to be played at the Rommel Fernández stadium in Panama City from 20:05 local time, comes at a plethora of moments for the Canaleros, after coming back against Honduras, visiting and in an epic way, two goals in 10 minutes, and returned home with a 3-2 win.
In repechage zone
The Concacaf octagonal grants three direct places for the first three classified, in addition to the possibility of a repechage for the fourth.
Panama currently occupies that fourth place with 11 points, behind the United States and Mexico with 14 and Canada with 13. Costa Rica, Jamaica and El Salvador continue with 6 units and Honduras, in the background, with 3.
A local victory could boost those led by the Spanish-Danish, Thomas Christiansen, to one of those first three seats. It would even make his immediate pursuers sweat, who would see the consolation prize go away.
Without stress
However, Christiansen does not want to hear about the obligation to win El Salvador. “I do not like the word obligation, an obligation creates stress and creates added pressure,” said the helmsman of Panama.
However, he acknowledged that wants all three points to reach the January window with “more distance with the rivals behind us ”and closer to the top positions.
Aníbal Godoy returns to the national team after serving a penalty game, while Alfredo Stephens will be dismissed due to accumulation of cards.
The appointment will be with the public, after FIFA’s decision to revoke, in a precautionary manner, the sanction of playing behind closed doors for homophobic chants.
Only the triumph is worth
El Salvador reaches canal lands with the obligation to win. A loss could leave “La Selecta” eight points from the playoffs, forcing him to perform quite a feat in the remainder of the octagonal to achieve at least fourth place.
However, the feelings of the Salvadorans are not good, after their agonizing home draw against Jamaica.
“We need to win, Panama won in Honduras and that forces us to try to win in Panama to stay close to that group that is fighting for fourth place,” said Salvadoran coach Hugo Pérez.
Except for midfielder Marvin Monterroza, who was given permission by the technical team for “personal reasons”, the rest of the squad traveled to Panama.
“We know it is a difficult game,” but “you have to have a cool mind” and “come out plugged in and with an attitude to be able to do what we want,” said Pérez.
Concacaf has assigned three direct places for the World Cup and the fourth classified will play a playoff against a team from another continent.
Possible alignments
Panama: Luis Mejía; Michael Murillo, Fidel Escobar, Andrés Andrade, Eric Davis; Aníbal Godoy, Adalberto Carrasquilla, José Luis Rodríguez, Cristian Martínez, Freddy Góndola; Rolando Blackburn. DT: Thomas Christiansen
El Salvador: Mario González; Bryan Tamacas, Alexander Larín, Eriq Zavaleta, Alexander Roldán; Cristian Martínez, Ronald Rodríguez, Bryan Landaverde; Jairo Henríquez, Joaquín Rivas and Enrico Dueñas. DT: Hugo Pérez.
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