Does Panama underpin their World Cup ambitions?
At the last World Cup in Russia in 2018, the Panamanians were still represented at a World Cup for the first time in the association’s history. Currently, “Los Canaleros” are back on course for the next World Cup in Qatar in 2022 and even have the chance of a direct World Cup spot at the end of the current international break.
To do so, Panama not only have to win their home match against the visitors from El Salvador, but are also dependent on support from the Mexicans, who face Canada in the parallel match.
A home win for Panama vs El Salvador is currently available at odds as low as 1.75. In the first leg of the clash between the two nations, a prediction on the Salvadorans paid off. “La Selecta” beat the Panamanian national team for the first time since June 2008 and is therefore confident going into the second round match.
The away match in Panama is of immense importance for the Salvadorans if they are to retain their chance of finishing fourth. If they are successful, El Salvador can reduce the gap to two points.
Panama – Statistics & current form
For the time being, Panama can breathe a sigh of relief. After all, the latest away coup in Honduras not only extended their lead over their pursuers, but at the end of the international break they even have the chance of a direct World Cup starting place on Tuesday night (CET). Panama will even benefit from home advantage.
Los Canaleros” have not yet lost a home game in the current World Cup qualifying round in the CONCACAF zone. In three home games, there have been two draws and one win. The latter came at home against the leaders from the United States, where Panama also kept their clean sheet.
After the impressive comeback in Honduras, the Panamanians are now aiming for the next victory in the group. The away win against the Hondurans is a real motivational boost, after all, the Panamanian national team only turned around a two-goal deficit in the final quarter of an hour.
Next home win against the Salvadorans?
Panama have won their last eight home games against the visitors from El Salvador. If the next win and thus also the ninth home victory in a row against “La Selecta” beckons, odds of 1.75 are paid out for a bet on the Panamanian hosts in Panama vs El Salvador.
The Panamanians are unbeaten at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez since November 2019 anyway. The last time Panama lost at home was against the Mexicans. Since then, the FIFA World Ranking 69th has picked up four wins and three draws at home. Panama have not conceded a goal in two of their last three home matches.
Compared to the starting eleven that recently celebrated an away win in Honduras, changes are by no means out of the question for “Los Canaleros” against El Salvador. After all, jokers like Waterman and Yanis made a big splash after their substitutions and were instrumental in the away coup. It is quite possible that the two attacking players will even be in the starting eleven this time.
Panama’s likely line-up:
Mejia – Murillo, Escobar, Andrade, Davis – Godoy, Cooper, Carrasquilla – Browne, Waterman, Yanis
Last matches played by Panama:
World Cup Qualifiers CONCACAF Finals
11/13 2021 – Honduras 2 – 3 Panama
10/14 2021 – Canada 4 – 1 Panama
10/11 2021 – Panama 1 – 0 USA
10/08 2021 – El Salvador 1 – 0 Panama
09/09 2021 – Panama 1 – 1 Mexico
El Salvador – Statistics & current form
The negative trend in the ongoing 2022 World Cup qualifiers continued for the Salvadorans in their final group game. After two defeats in a row, “La Selecta” only narrowly missed another defeat against the Jamaicans. El Salvador only managed to score the equaliser in the last minute of normal time against their neighbours in the standings.
Nevertheless, the starting position in the race for the 2022 World Cup has worsened. Before the six-point match against Panama, the gap to the fourth-placed team in the group is already five points. A defeat at their upcoming opponents would therefore be all the more serious.
In the first leg, the team of national coach Hugo Pérez won 1-0 against the visitors from Panama. For the first time since February 2003, the Salvadorans will now be looking to score three points away from home.
Will El Salvador’s away woes continue?
With “La Selecta” barely convincing on foreign soil this calendar year, meanwhile, there are few arguments to back up a prediction on the visitors in Panama vs El Salvador. In the last eight away games in Panama City, El Salvador have even failed to score.
In the current 2022 World Cup qualifiers, El Salvador have already lost their two away matches in Canada and Costa Rica. The Salvadorans have conceded a total of five goals in their last two away matches. It is quite possible that the away misery in Panama will now get worse. Especially since El Salvador have won only one of their last twelve international matches.
Compared to the starting eleven that picked up an important point at home against Jamaica, the Salvadorans are not expected to make any major changes in Panama. The most valuable player in El Salvador’s ranks is currently Alex Roldan, who is under contract with the Seattle Sounders.
Predicted line-up of El Salvador:
Gonzalez – Tamacas, Dominguez, Gomez, Larin – Martinez – Monterroza, Ceren, Roldan – Rivas, Henriquez
Last matches played by El Salvador:
World Cup Qualifiers CONCACAF Finals
11/13 2021 – El Salvador 1 – 1 Jamaica
Friendly match
11/06 2021 – El Salvador 0 – 1 Bolivia
World Cup qualifier CONCACAF finals
10/14 2021 – El Salvador 0 – 2 Mexico
10/11 2021 – Costa Rica 2 – 1 El Salvador
10/08 2021 – El Salvador 1 – 0 Panama
Panama – El Salvador Direct comparison / H2H balance
This is the 41st time the two nations have met. So far, Panama leads the head-to-head comparison against El Salvador with a record of 17-9-13. On average, 2.65 goals per game have been scored in international matches between the two nations. Nevertheless, it is more than risky to make a prediction on a high-scoring encounter in Panama vs El Salvador.
After all, only one goal was scored in the first leg between El Salvador and Panama. Los Canaleros” from Panama have thus lost an international match against the Salvadorans for the first time since June 2008. Prior to that, the Panamanian national team had not lost to El Salvador in ten consecutive international matches.
Panama – El Salvador Tip
At home, Panama will be looking to follow up their impressive comeback against Honduras with a win over El Salvador to keep their chances of a direct berth to the 2022 World Cup alive. In the first leg, Panama lost the away match in El Salvador. This time, however, “Los Canaleros” will benefit from home advantage.
The team of national coach Thomas Christiansen has not lost a home match against the visitors from El Salvador since February 2003. Most recently, the Panamanian national team won eight home matches in a row against the Salvadorans. That’s why Panama is going into the upcoming home match against “La Selecta” with a broad chest.
If the Panamanians can build on their strong performance in the closing stages against the Hondurans, it is obvious that they will also score three points against El Salvador. The visitors, meanwhile, are in disastrous form and have been largely harmless on foreign soil.
With a stake of six units, we dare to bet on Panama vs El Salvador at good odds on the host nation
