Panama will aim to continue their fairytale run at the Copa America when they face a high-flying Colombia in the quarter-finals on Saturday in Glendale, Arizona. Panama finished second in Group C, a remarkable feat considering they outperformed the United States and secured their quarter-final spot behind Uruguay. The Panamanians started their campaign with a 3-1 defeat to Uruguay but bounced back with a resounding 2-1 victory over the United States. They sealed their quarter-final place with a convincing 3-1 win against Bolivia, demonstrating their resilience and determination.
While Panama’s victories have been impressive, they will enter the match as underdogs against a Colombian side currently on a remarkable 26-match unbeaten run. Colombia’s dominance is further highlighted by their 10-match winning streak, which was recently broken by a 1-1 draw with Brazil. The Colombians are a force to be reckoned with, and their star midfielder, James Rodriguez, has acknowledged the challenge ahead. “There’s still a lot of work to do, and on Saturday we have to come out and play very focused,” said Rodriguez. “We are going step by step. Panama will be difficult, but we will play with a lot of quality.”
This will be Colombia’s sixth consecutive Copa America quarter-final, with the previous four being decided by penalty shootouts. Colombia emerged victorious in 2016 and 2021 but fell short in 2015 and 2019. This encounter promises to be a thrilling clash of styles, with Panama’s underdog spirit set to challenge Colombia’s formidable form and unbeaten run. The outcome of this match will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the tournament’s trajectory.
