PANAMA PARTY DESPITE LOSS

THEY might have been taught a lesson by Belgium but Panama’s supporters bore no grudge against head coach Hernan Gomez. The Central Americans came to party – and party they did. And while some nations have been upset by their opening matches – one of the Brazilian papers was so disappointed they printed the headline ‘Haircuts 10, Football 0’ – the same was not true of the Panamanians. It was such a big deal for the country that president Juan Carlos Varela (above) turned up in Sochi. And the morning after the game Gomez walked into breakfast at the Radisson Hotel and was applauded to his seat by the assembled throng.