Panama arrive at their second World Cup already eliminated, but several players remain capable of causing England real problems on Saturday.
Their 2018 campaign ended in three consecutive defeats, including a 6-1 hammering by England, and another loss would equal the longest 100% losing record in World Cup history.
Panama’s squad is both the oldest and most-capped at this tournament, meaning pride is the only thing left to play for as they face Gareth Southgate’s successor’s side.
Midfielder Adalberto ‘Coco’ Carrasquilla is arguably their most dangerous weapon, having been named Concacaf men’s player of the year in 2024, the first Panamanian to receive that honour.
The 27-year-old has not featured at this World Cup due to a thigh muscle injury sustained during the Mexican league title decider on 24 May, but indications suggest he could be involved against England.
Carrasquilla is Panama’s tempo setter and creative spark, capable of driving the team forward and wriggling out of tight spaces with impressive technical ability.
Norwich City’s Jose Cordoba has emerged as a key defensive figure for Panama, averaging 6.2 ball recoveries per 90 minutes among centre-backs who played at least 750 Championship minutes in 2025-26.
The 25-year-old central defender, nicknamed the Prince of Panama at Carrow Road, flourished following Philippe Clement’s appointment as Norwich head coach in November.
Midfielder Cristian Martinez, nicknamed El Fulo for his bleached hair, made history against Croatia by becoming the first Panamanian to win Fifa’s man-of-the-match award in a World Cup game.
Head coach Thomas Christiansen praised Martinez after the Croatia match, saying: “Cristian was spectacular. He scored numbers we hadn’t seen in six years.”
Wing-back Michael Amir Murillo brings significant European experience to the squad, having started half of Marseille’s league and Champions League games before his departure in February.
The 30-year-old, who now plays for Besiktas, faced England at the 2018 World Cup and is a warrior in mindset, stating: “My main strength is my mentality.”
Murillo’s resilience traces back to his upbringing in a tough neighbourhood in Colon, where he worked odd jobs to support his mother and five siblings in their single-room home.
Veteran forward Cecilio Waterman, 35, grabbed headlines last year when he celebrated a stoppage-time winner against the USA by climbing onto a TV studio platform to embrace his idol Thierry Henry.
“He was there, and it came out of my heart to go hug and celebrate with him. It was totally natural,” Waterman explained of that memorable moment.
Waterman made news for different reasons this week, having to be restrained after a physical altercation with team-mate Jose Luis Rodriguez during a training session on Friday, though Christiansen played down the incident.
Panama’s squad may be ageing and already out of contention, but with players of this character and quality, England would be foolish to take Saturday’s fixture lightly.
