O Panamarevelation of 2024 Copa America in the United States, he feels comfortable with his status as underdog for the quarter-final duel in which he will face Colombia’s James Rodríguez and Luis Díaz, on Saturday, in scorching Glendale, Arizona.
“Being the underdog means a lot because we know we don’t have pressure and when it’s time for the game we let loose more,” midfielder Carlos Harvey said on Wednesday in a press conference at the hotel in Phoenix, the capital of Arizona, where the ‘Canaleros’ are staying.
The Minnesota MLS player, who can also play as a defender, highlighted the “good football” of ‘La Tricolor’, who topped Group D ahead of Brazil and are unbeaten in 26 games.
“You have to be very united, very focused on the game. Games like this are decided by the details,” added the versatile 24-year-old. “We’re going to go out and do what we did game by game, which is to have the ball and attack, obviously defending a bit” because of Colombia’s attacking prowess, he added.
FOR THE PASS TO THE SEMIS!
The selection #GreaterPanama 🇵🇦 will play its quarter-final match of the @CopaAmerica 🏆 This Saturday 🆚 Colombia 🇨🇴 in Glendale, Arizona.
🇨🇴🆚🇵🇦
⏰ 5pm
🏟️ State Farm
📺 @deportes_rpc y @tvmaxdeportes #WeAreAllPanama 💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/BpMpmNeKYo— FEPAFUT (@fepafut) July 3, 2024
His teammate César Yanis, winger for AD San Carlos of Costa Rica, assured in the same press conference that the work and strength of the group were fundamental for Panama to qualify for the quarterfinals for the first time in its second participation in the oldest national team competition in the world.
“Nobody cared about us”
Coached by Danish-born Spanish coach Thomas Christiansen, the Central Americans advanced to the quarterfinals as runners-up in Group C after surprisingly defeating the hosts and Bolivia. Uruguay topped the group.
“It was clear that we were not favourites in the group, nobody gave us any credit, but we showed that (our strength). At the start of the tournament we said that we came to compete and that’s what we did,” said the striker. “We are all focused, immersed in history, to try to finish the tournament well,” he added.
Yanis, who scored the last goal in Monday’s 3-1 victory over Bolivia in the Group C final, said his team is capable of “playing well” and believing in an unprecedented qualification for the semifinals. “I know Panama has everything, we showed that in the second half against Uruguay (3-1 defeat). Let’s believe we can play well,” he said.
“We have to face Colombia. It will be a tough game, they have top-level players, but with a lot of work we will go out on the pitch to play a good game. We know it will be a great spectacle,” he added.
Colombians and Panamanians will battle on Saturday for a spot in the semifinals at State Farm Stadium, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, starting at 3 p.m. local time (7 p.m. Brasília). The winner will face the winner of the match between Brazil and Uruguay, who play the same day in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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