Page 73 - Soccer360 Issue 106

GROUP C FIXTURES MACTH DAY 3:
BOLIVIA VS PANAMA JULY 1 9:OOPM EST USA VS URUGUAY JULY 1 9:OOPM EST
GROUP C - COPA AMERICA 2024
PANAMA
MICHAEL MURILLO
ALooks to bring
Panama out of the
group stage for the
first time in history
FIFA RANKING HISTORY
CURRENT 45 (April 2024) HIGHEST 21 (March 2014) LOWEST 150 (August 1995)
COPA AMERICA APPEARANCES: 2
COPA CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0
Panama, steadily progressing as a strong presence in CONCACAF, brings a roster filled with MLS talent, including seasoned players like Adalberto Carrasquilla, Eric Davis, and Jose Fajardo, who spent the
2023 season with DC United. Making their second appearance in the oldest continental tournament in the world, Panama debuted in the Centenario edition in 2016. In the 2024 edition in the United States, Panama sets its sights on advancing from the group stage for the first time, highlighting their ambition to continue their upward trajectory on the international stage.
TEAM BREAKDOWN
COACH: Thomas Christiansen
NICKNAME: Los Canaleros (The Canal Men) BEST TOURNAMENT RESULT: Group Stage STAR MAN: Michael Murillo (Marseille)
ON THE RISE: Ismael Diaz (C.D. Universidad Católica del Ecuado)
FIFA RANKING HISTORY
CURRENT 85 (April 2024) HIGHEST 15 (July 1997) LOWEST 115 (October 2011)
MARTINS
Can Bolivia win it’s
COPA AMERICA APPEARANCES: 29
COPA CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1
Bolivia enters the Copa América with a determination to course correct, aiming for a stronger showing to uplift team spirits. The tournament holds particular significance as it marks the final international competition for Marcelo Martins, Bolivia’s most-capped player and current captain. Bolivia’s storied history in the Copa América includes their triumph in the 1963 home edition, where they lifted the trophy for the only time. Playing at the Hernando Siles Stadium in
La Paz and the Féliz Capriles Stadium in Cochabamba, La Verde went undefeated, winning five matches and drawing one, with Máximo Alcócer emerging as the top scorer with five goals. In 1997, Bolivia achieved runner-up status at home, narrowly losing to Brazil in the final. With a blend of nostalgia and ambition, Bolivia aims to channel past glories and forge a new path in the 2024 Copa América.
BOLIVIA
second title?
TEAM BREAKDOWN
COACH: Antonio Carlos Zago
NICKNAME: La Verde (The Green)
BEST TOURNAMENT RESULT: Champions STAR MAN: Martins (Cruzeiro Esporte Clube) ON THE RISE: Ramiro Vaca (Club Bilovar)
SOCCER360 SUMMER 2024 71