Title: No More Nice Guys: Panama’s Lethal One-Two Punch Delivers in World Cup
Date: June 24, 2018
Location: Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
In their 2-1 upset victory over Belgium, Panama did what few expected – they "[ditched]" their friendly, attacking style of play and instead unleashed a furious, hard-nosed, and physical brand of football that left the fancied Belgians reeling.
In a dramatic turn of events, the Central American underdogs, who had only made their World Cup debut a year ago, proved that their "nice guys" image was nothing but a myth, showcasing a ruthless, efficient, and well-drilled tactical display that caught everyone off guard.
Manager Hernán Díaz’s team, often perceived as an ATM (Always Tame and Meek), punched way above their weight, exploiting Belgium’s sloppy defending and pinning them on the back foot from the offset. Passions ran high as Panama’s usually quiet players suddenly transformed into a menacing, street-fighting unit, rendering Belgium’s vaunted golden generation helpless.
The match, watched by 43,675 raucous fans at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, saw Panama’s defense, marshaled by the rock-solid Roman Torres, absorb the initial Belgian onslaught and then riposte with devastating efficiency, leveraging their quick counter-attacks to supreme effect.
The first goal, scored by Mexican-born forward Josiel Morales, was a masterclass example of quick thinking and clinical finishing, with the 28-year-old threading the ball into the net with a poacher’s precision just before the halftime interval. Belgium’s Goffin (1.21 Expected Goals, xG) drew one, but it was too little, too late for the under-pressure Red Devils.
The Central Americans earned their second goal, courtesy of ex-West Bromwich Albion striker, Edgar Baordable, who finally put the ball away after a chaotic, 20-minute feeding frenzy of keep-ball football from his Panamanian teammates. The defending aside, Belgium’s inability to impose themselves on the game proved costly, as they were left to rue their squandered possession and lost opportunities in the first half.
As the full-time whistle blew, the Panamanian players, including the stunned-match-day substitutes, celebrated an historic victory, one that would go down as one of the most impressive upsets in World Cup history. Their remarkable achievement has instilled hope in a nation of just 4 million people, with supporters now believing they too can make a lasting impression on the world’s biggest stage.
How the mighty have fallen! Panama may have ditched their nice-guy cop, but with this comeuppance, the Toros – as they are nicknamed – have shaken the football world. The red-hot, no-holds-barred brand of football on display will forever change the perception of these plucky underdogs, now recognized as anything but "nice guys."