sports

They weren't expected to even get this far, but Panama's under-20 national soccer team has made it to the world championships in the United Arab Emirates. They will play on November 28 against Burkina Faso, a strong team with a couple of youngsters who play for important European clubs and many veterans of an under-17 Burkinabe squad that surprised the world a few years ago. Then on December 1 they take on the home team from the UAE, and round out their first-round play on December 4 against Slovakia. All of the first-round games will be at 11:30 am Panama Time (EST).

Coach Gary Stempel's team has come this far --- farther than any Panamanian team has ever made it in a FIFA competition --- without any renowned superstars but by playing tenacious defense, shocking good defenses with occasional displays of explosive, fast-breaking offense, and by holding up well under pressure.

If this team continues to surprise the soccer world by getting into the second round, look for midfielders James Brown or Juan Ramón Solís to have a hand in setting up the key goals, and strikers César Aguilar, René Cohn or Cristian Vega to put the ball in the net. But then, don't be surprised if Panama wins and none of these guys turn out to be the big heroes, because this is a team of overachievers.







Also in this section:
Cayuco season 2004
Gary Stempel's boys go big-time

Back to top

Panama Information, Hotels of Panama - Executive Hotel
Panama Information, Real estate in Boquete - Valle Escondido
Panama Information, Real Estate in Las Cumbres - Villa Concordia
Panama Information - Online guide to information about Panama - www.panama-information.executivehotel-panama.com
Panama Tourism - Online info for the Tourist Panama - www.travel-to-panama.com
Panama Pictures - Collection of pictures of Panama - www.panama-pictures.com