Panama

Panama

Panama's recent campaign has been a study in inconsistency. They have won two of their last six matches but those victories came against modest opposition - a 4-2 win over Dominican Republic and a 2-1 away success in South Africa. Against stronger sides, the picture darkens considerably.

England dismantled them 2-0. Croatia won 1-0. Ghana beat them 1-0. Brazil, predictably, inflicted heavy damage with a 6-2 thrashing that laid bare their defensive vulnerabilities. The eight goals conceded in that match alone suggest structural problems when facing top-tier attacking talent.

The Dominican Republic result offers some encouragement - a four-goal haul shows they can score when given space - but the South Africa win came in isolation and has not been built upon. More telling is what happened next: three consecutive defeats to teams of varying quality, culminating in the Brazil collapse.

Panama's issue is not a complete lack of ability. They can beat teams below their level and occasionally trouble those around them. But consistency eludes them. The gap between beating South Africa and losing 6-2 to Brazil is not merely the difference in opponent quality - it suggests a team that struggles to maintain standards or adjust tactically when under sustained pressure.

Until they find a way to compete more reliably against stronger opposition, results will remain unpredictable.