The United States kicks off its 2017 Gold Cup campaign against Panama on Saturday. This game will likely determine the group winner, with both sides expected to handily defeat fellow group members Martinique and Nicaragua. Panama is 1-1-3 in its last five matches, which includes a 1-1 draw at home against the USMNT in March. Los Canaleros are without several veteran stars, including Roman Torres, Luis Tejada, and Blas Perez.
Panama Roster:
Goalkeepers: Jose Calderon (Real Cartagena/COL), Orlando Mosquera (Tauro FC/PAN), Alex Rodriguez (San Francisco FC/PAN)
Defenders: Roberto Chen (Deportivo Árabe Unido/PAN), Eric Davis (FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda/SVK), Fidel Escobar (Sporting Clube de Portugal/POR), Roderick Miller (Atlético Nacional/COL), Michael Murillo (New York Red Bulls/USA), Luis Ovalle (Zamora FC/VEN), Angel Patrick (Cafetaleros de Tapachula/MEX), Jan Vargas (Tauro FC/PAN)
Midfielders: Edgar Barcenas (Cafetaleros de Tapachula/MEX), Miguel Camargo (New York City FC/USA), Armando Cooper (Toronto FC/CAN), Anibal Godoy (San Jose Earthquakes/USA), Gabriel Gomez (Atlético Bucaramanga/COL), Leslie Heraldez (Deportivo Árabe Unido/PAN), Josiel Nuñez (CD Plaza Amador/PAN), Valentin Pimentel (CD Plaza Amador/PAN)
Forwards: Abdiel Arroyo (Danubio FC/URU), Ricardo Clarke (Zamora FC/VEN), Ismael Diaz (FC Porto B/POR), Gabriel Torres (FC Lausanne-Sport/SUI)
Panama is an athletic and physical team, that may lack technical skill, but hasn’t lost to the USMNT by more than 2 goals since 2004.