Belgium (The Red Devils) are a team that have always looked promising but never delivered. Surprising to see they failed to qualify for 2006 and 2010 World Cups and never really turned on during last World Cup. After topping a relatively easy group, they were forced into Extra Time by the USA before being beaten by Argentina in the Quarter Final.
Headed by superstars like De Bruyne, Hazard, Courtois, Kompany, Dembele this team has world class players all over the park. It is amazing to see most these stars, like France, are only in their mid 20's but have had to live with the pressure of "superstar" fame for a long time. This team managed to score 43 goals in 10 qualifying games to finish undefeated in their group.
Anything less than top of the group and a Semi-final appearance would be a failure.
Panama (The Canal Men) are at their first World Cup ever. They surprised everyone with their qualification, considering the fact they did so, automatically by finishing above Panama and the USA. A 2-1 win on the final day of qualifying made sure they finished 3rd for the final automatic spot on GD.
Panama's players mainly play in the MLS or lower divisions of big leagues. They are quite an old squad with most players in their late 20s and early 30s and they have 6 players with over 100 international caps. In their warmup games, they lost 6-0 to Switzerland, 1-0 to Denmark and Norway and a 0-0 with Northern Ireland.
Not much can be said about Panama other than, congratulations to your World Cup, hope you enjoy it, because it will more than likely consist of 3 losses and a trip home.
It is a shame to see such a small nation have to handle Belgium in their first game at a World Cup ever. I would like to predict a fairy tale, but even if Belgium played like Argentina, they should win comfortably. 5-0 Belgium.
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