Penedo’s sure Panama can make a point
JAIME PENEDO claims he would settle for winning just one point in Russia.
World Cup debutants Panama are huge underdogs in Group G and the veteran goalkeeper (below) is under no illusions about the challenge facing them.
“My dream is to go step by step,” he said. “Each step is a short step and my objective in this World Cup is to make a point. Make a point in our group.
“Whether we get one point, three, four, I don’t know. I just want to get a point on the board.
“When I see the table, I don’t want to see zero. I want to see a point. That’s my objective.”
Panama’s qualification is the biggest thing to happen to the small Central American country since the canal was built and president Juan Carlos Varela declared a public holiday to celebrate.
It was a hugely-emotional moment for Penedo, who has 129 caps, and he knew that at 36 years old, this was his last shot at a World Cup.
Panama qualified thanks to a ghost goal that never crossed the line in their win over Costa Rica, ironically at the expense of the USA, who eliminated them in 2014.
“I fought 12 years for this objective,” said the much-travelled Penedo, who is now with Dinamo Bucharest after spells with LA Galaxy and in Spain, Italy and Guatemala.
“This was my last opportunity to play in the World Cup.
“It is really a dream for our country, for our people.
“I didn’t want to retire from the national team without giving this happiness to my people. Panama is a small country and football is growing.
“It is historic for us, something amazing to play in the World Cup.”