Thread: Panama qualify for Gold Cup (FIFA)

Panama qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup by beating Guatemala 1-0, despite playing the entire second half with only*10 men.

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I don't think beating a weak team like Guatemala should be causing celebrations. The only thing I care about is whether Panama can qualify for the soccer world cup or not... Anyway it seems too far off......

You'd best not repeat that opinion while in Panama. :-)

Originally Posted by exilio

You'd best not repeat that opinion while in Panama. :-)

I have told this while I was in Panama to my Panamanian friends. They didn't seemed to be much offended. Anyway what is wrong in telling the truth? Qualifying for WC Qualifiers is not a big thing.

Well, Panamanians are pretty easy-going, but they are also very proud.

This is the very first time Panama has won the Central America title, and beating Costa Rica was especially sweet, because we lost to them for the past 4 years.

So, I wasn't suggesting that anyone will challenge you to a fist-fight -- just that they will consider your "no cause for celebration" comment to be ill-mannered.

In fact, there was a *big* celebration here Sunday night: the streets were jammed, horns honking for hours, and some fireworks.

In a similar vein, when Iriving Saladino won a gold medal in the Olympics last year, it was a huge celebration (with a parade), and he was a national hero. A single gold medal may not seem like much to countries that have won dozens and dozens over the years, but that was Panama's very first.

Originally Posted by exilio

...In a similar vein, when Iriving Saladino won a gold medal in the Olympics last year, it was a huge celebration (with a parade), and he was a national hero. A single gold medal may not seem like much to countries that have won dozens and dozens over the years, but that was Panama's very first.

Over the years, Panama has produced some distinguished individuals in the world of sports: Laffit Pincay (jockey), Rod Carew (MLB hall-of-famer), Roberto Duran (legendary fighter), Mariano Rivera (future MLB hall-of-famer), to name a few. But when it comes to team sports (soccer, baseball) on the world stage, the country is - to put it mildly - seriously lacking...

didnt realise Duran was from Panama. He was a great fighter and is well known throughout the world

Originally Posted by silver

didnt realise Duran was from Panama. He was a great fighter and is well known throughout the world

You think?

No más!

Originally Posted by silver

No más!

So what?!