Beware of underdogs
ROBERTO MARTINEZ has warned his Belgium players and Gareth Southgate’s England stars they will underestimate Panama and Tunisia at their peril. And the Spaniard reckons the Three Lions’ defeat by Iceland at Euro 2016 should serve as a stark reminder that neither Group G outsider will simply roll over. Belgium and England are favourites to reach the knockout phase, but Martinez said: “There’s a little bit of a misunderstanding of the teams we are going to be facing. It doesn’t matter if you are an underdog or the favourites, the teams that arrive at the World Cup arrived there for a reason.
“They had their own successful story and playing against Panama and Tunisia will be completely different to playing against England.
“But still very, very difficult to try to get the three points.
“England’s result against Iceland was absolutely a warning that we shouldn’t underestimate Panama and Tunisia.
“Although you can look into any major tournament and you get those results. It’s more a lack of knowledge about certain nations and popularity of others.
“Sometimes more wellknown names become, in the perception of the fans, harder games. When, in reality, every game in the World Cup is going to be difficult because everyone is going to bring a different style and a different role. In PANAMA’S players believe that being a team of World Cup nobodies can catch England cold when they lock horns in their Group G clash. The Three Lions will face World Cup debutants Panama in their second game after the Central American country pipped the USA to a ticket to Russia. None of the Panama squad play at a higher level than MLS, with most of the players based domestically in a country half the size of London. But Roman Torres – a centrehalf for US outfit Seattle Sounders – believes Panama can take England by surprise in the first-ever meeting between Panama’s qualification campaign, they helped keep the United States out of the World Cup.
“Look at their budget and facilities, and the desire of USA soccer to be in the World Cup, and that shows you the level of Panams’s competitive nature.
“They have a bit of everything and they qualified with a lot of success.”
Martinez is desperately hoping Belgium and England have each won their first two games before their showdown on June 28.
The Belgians have a nucleus of Premier League superstars, including Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard (above with Martinez).
“We are two teams who share many dressing rooms at club level and both sets of the two nations. “It’s important that England don’t know much about Panama. It’s a good thing,” said Torres (right), who scored the goal that sealed their World Cup qualification.
“We need to work very hard, show a lot of concentration because we know it’s going to be a very difficult group to get out of... but not impossible.
“For many years, we’ve been very close to reaching the World Cup and at last we will achieve that goal.”
Panama didn’t even boast its own league until the 1980s, but four years ago, they were on the verge of reaching Brazil, only to ship two late goals in their final qualifying game against the USA to miss out. Revenge came last October when Panama’s win over Costa Rica, coupled with the USA’S defeat by Trinidad and Tobago, saw America crash out.
Midfielder Anibal Godoy, another MLS player, at San Jose Earthquakes, said: “When I go back home, it’s so different from a year ago. People stop you in the street and wait to get your picture or an autograph.
“It’s a very different feeling. It’s historic.”