5 hours ago 
ByNoel Sliney
BBC Sport elder journalist
Panama's 2nd World Cup is successful information of finishing the aforesaid mode arsenic their archetypal successful 2018, erstwhile they mislaid each 3 radical games - including 6-1 against England.
A sixth-straight World Cup decision connected Saturday would adjacent the longest 100% losing grounds successful the tournament's history.
Panama's experienced squad - which is some the oldest and most-capped astatine this World Cup - are lone playing for pridefulness pursuing their aboriginal elimination.
BBC Sport has picked retired 5 players who could beryllium cardinal if they are to origin a seismic upset against England.
Adalberto 'Coco' Carrasquilla
Image source, Getty Images
Midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla won the Golden Ball grant for champion subordinate astatine the 2023 Gold Cup
Club: UNAM, Mexico Age: 27 Position: Midfielder Caps: 73 Goals: 3
Arguably Panama's astir important player, Carrasquilla has yet to play a infinitesimal astatine this World Cup due to the fact that of a thigh musculus wounded sustained during the Mexican league rubric decider connected 24 May.
Indications are helium is present acceptable capable to beryllium progressive successful immoderate capableness against England.
The cardinal midfielder is Panama's tempo setter and originative spark, moving tirelessly successful and retired of possession and showcasing an awesome quality to wriggle retired of choky spaces and thrust the squad upfield.
In 2024, Carrasquilla became the archetypal Panamanian to beryllium named Concacaf men's subordinate of the year.
He trained arsenic a hairdresser successful his younker and was giving his team-mates a trim by the clip helium made his elder debut aged 16 for Panamanian broadside Tauro. Carrasquilla inactive occasionally cuts hairsbreadth astatine the section barber erstwhile helium is visiting household backmost home.
The 27-year-old's ain voluminous locks volition stay intact, having pledged to shave his caput if Panama won the World Cup.
Image source, Getty Images
Jose Cordoba made his Panama debut successful 2022
Club: Norwich City Age: 25 Position: Central defender Caps: 34 Goals: 1
The left-footed cardinal defender has benefited hugely from a alteration of manager astatine Norwich City to go an important subordinate for nine and country.
He marked his 30th headdress for Panama with his archetypal planetary extremity successful March, converting a rebound arsenic they bushed South Africa successful Cape Town.
Cordoba was an ever-present arsenic Panama reached the Copa America quarter-finals successful 2024 but his opportunities became constricted arsenic helium initially struggled astatine Norwich.
He moved to the nine for £3m 2 years agone aft 4 seasons successful Bulgaria. Powerful and with exceptional betterment pace, Cordoba has flourished since Philippe Clement was appointed arsenic Norwich caput manager successful November.
Cordoba, known astatine Carrow Road arsenic the Prince of Panama, averaged the astir shot recoveries per 90 minutes (6.2) among centre-backs to play astatine slightest 750 minutes successful the 2025-26 Championship season.
Image source, Getty Images
Midfielder Cristian Martinez spent the aboriginal portion of his vocation successful the USA
Club: Kiryat Shmona, Israel Age: 29 Position: Midfielder Caps: 69 Goals: 2
Nicknamed El Fulo – The Blond – for his bleached hair, Martinez has besides stood retired for his vigor and tenacity astatine this World Cup.
He was acold from assured of a starting spot coming into the tourney but, against Croatia, became the archetypal Panamanian to triumph Fifa's man-of-the-match grant successful a World Cup game.
"Cristian was spectacular," said caput manager Thomas Christiansen. "He scored numbers [in assorted metrics] we hadn't seen successful six years."
Martinez's eye-catching displays this summertime person travel successful a instrumentality to the much precocious relation of his aboriginal vocation earlier helium remodelled himself arsenic a cardinal midfielder.
A determination to MLS broadside Columbus Crew aged 19 marked the archetypal clip helium had lived anyplace extracurricular Panama City.
Martinez scored connected his debut but ne'er settled successful the USA oregon subsequently successful Spain and has spent the past 2 seasons playing successful Israel.
Image source, Getty Images
This is simply a 2nd World Cup for Michael Amir Murillo
Club: Besiktas Age: 30 Position: Wing-back Caps: 95 Goals: 9
Murillo was the lone subordinate of Panama's squad to play successful 1 of Europe's apical 5 leagues successful 2025-26 until his abrupt departure from Marseille successful February.
The attacking full-back had started fractional of their league and Champions League games but became the autumn feline for the team's costly antiaircraft lapses successful some competitions.
Murillo, who moved to Turkish broadside Besiktas, has been a regular starter for Panama since his debut a decennary agone and helium played against England astatine the 2018 World Cup.
"My main spot is my mentality," helium said.
It stems from his upbringing successful a pugnacious neighbourhood successful Colon; Murillo worked unusual jobs to enactment his mum and 5 siblings successful their single-room home.
Image source, Getty Images
Chile-based Cecilio Waterman scored doubly during the World Cup qualifiers
Club: Universidad de Concepcion, Chile Age: 35 Position: Forward Caps: 57 Goals: 15
The seasoned guardant became known to a wider assemblage past twelvemonth aft celebrating his stoppage-time victor against the USA successful the Concacaf Nations League by climbing connected to a TV workplace level and embracing his idol,, external Thierry Henry.
"He was there, and it came retired of my bosom to spell hug and observe with him. It was wholly natural," Waterman says.
His emotions besides took implicit successful the build-up to the England crippled erstwhile helium pushed and shoved team-mate Jose Luis Rodriguez during a disagreement connected Friday.
Waterman had to beryllium restrained by different players arsenic helium continued to instrumentality contented with Rodriguez, though caput manager Thomas Christiansen played down the incident.
Waterman went six years without a headdress from 2013 but has been a squad regular successful caller years and is competing with Jose Fajardo for a spot successful the side.
Waterman started against Ghana and came connected arsenic a substitute during the decision by Croatia.
This nonfiction is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
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