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Thomas Christiansen is challenging Panama to continue springing surprises at the Copa America when they face Colombia in the quarter-finals.
After losing their opening game of the tournament 3-1 to Uruguay on free goals, Panama came in to cause an upset for the host nation United States, coming from behind to win 2-1.
A comfortable 3-1 win over Bolivia followed to secure second place in Group C as Panama booked their place in the Copa America knockout round for the first time.
Former Leeds United boss Christiansen challenged his side to be the surprise package, but says this result has been years in the making.
“When we were leaving for the United States, I said I would like to be the surprise (of the tournament), like Morocco in the (2022) World Cup (which made it to the semifinals),” he said. journalists.
“Well, now we’re in the next round. I’m happy. Super happy.
“It is constant, really, what we have done, what we have reaped in these almost four years.
“(Is this a coincidence? I don’t believe in coincidences. You have to work. You have to fight for it. Just luck is not enough.”
Colombia were Group D winners, beating Brazil into first place.
Wins over Paraguay and Costa Rica put Colombia in a driving position before holding Dorival Junior’s side to a 1-1 draw in the final match.
While this may be a surprising result at first glance, Colombia are the form team in South America and are on a 26-game unbeaten run.
An integral part of their success has been James Rodriguez, who is often their talisman at major tournaments, having first come to the limelight at the 2014 World Cup.
“I feel comfortable, there is still a lot to do, we have to play on Saturday, but I felt good,” said the former Real Madrid star.
“I am going through a good phase here, we are going step by step. Panama will be difficult, but we will play with a lot of quality.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Colombia – James Rodriguez
James has been a driving force for Colombia in the tournament, having already registered three assists.
Colombia had the best crossing accuracy in the Copa America group stage, completing 41% of their crosses (20/49). James was responsible for 11 of their successful crosses – the most of any player in the tournament.
Panama – Jose Fajardo
Of the players who attempted more than five shots in the Copa America group stage, Jose Fajardo boasts the second highest shot conversion rate.
He scored on 29% of his attempts (2/7), bettered only by Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez (44%), who is the tournament’s top scorer.
MATCH PREDICTION: COLOMBIA WINNER
Colombia extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 26 matches with their draw against Brazil and Opta Computer have backed them to continue that here.
Colombia is playing in its sixth straight Copa America quarter-final, with each of the last four going to penalties. Los Cafeteros have won twice (against Peru in 2016 and Uruguay in 2021) and lost twice (against Argentina in 2015 and Chile in 2019).
Panama have won four of their seven competitive games in the 21st century against opposition from CONMEBOL (losing the other three).
Two of those wins were against Colombia when they faced each other in the group stage (1-0) and semifinals (3-2) of the 2005 Concacaf Gold Cup.
OPTA WINNING PROBABILITY
Colombia – 61.6%
Draw – 19.6%
Panama – 18.8%
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