Panama vs Qatar betting tips: Gold Cup preview, predictions, team news & odds

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Panama vs Qatar

Panama to win 2-1 against Qatar- 17/2!

At 17/2, a £10 bet would return £95!

Panama vs Qatar

July 09, 2023

12:00 am GMT+1

Panama vs Qatar match preview

The first of this weekend’s four CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals takes place in Arlington, so who will keep alive their dreams of silverware?

Panama certainly come into this tie as favourites, following an impressive group stage campaign.

Los Canaleros wrapped up qualification with a game to spare, courtesy of 2-1 victories over both Costa Rica and then Martinique; José Fajardo on target in both.

So then, Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw with El Salvador in Houston was enough to rubber stamp top spot.

Fidel Escobar and Ismael Díaz scored as Panama came from behind to lead, only for El Salvador to bag an inconsequential equaliser in stoppage time.

Thomas Christiansen’s team featured in the Nations League semi-finals earlier this summer, so are now hoping to reach la Marea Roja’s first Gold Cup semi since 2015.

Qatar meantime looked dead and buried after two group games, but they’re still here, able to fight another day.

Carlos Queiroz’s team lost their opener 2-1 to Haiti, before a 1-1 draw with Honduras four days later, conceding in the 97th minute of both matches.

Thus, the Maroons were bottom of Group B ahead of their final game against Mexico on Sunday night.

Remarkably, el Tri had 25 shots in Santa Clara, to Qatar’s one, but one was enough for the Asian champions to take the points, with Hazem Shehata’s header on the half hour mark the difference.

This saw the Maroons sneak through by virtue of goal difference, benefiting from the fact they faced an already qualified Mexico last.

Back in 2021, Qatar did get all the way to the Gold Cup semi-finals, ousting El Salvador at this stage back then, before a narrow 1-0 defeat to the United States in Austin.

Almost exactly two years ago, these two sides played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in Texas, with Panama bagging three equalisers that night.

This time, based on what we’ve seen at this tournament so far, Panama are set to prevail at AT&T Stadium, setting up a semi-final showdown with USA or Canada in San Diego on Wednesday.

Panama team news

With qualification already assured, Thomas Christiansen rested a few key players on Tuesday, but they’ll all be back in here.

Andrés Andrade and Adalberto Carrasquilla will be back in the XI, having come off the bench at half time against El Salvador.

Ismael Díaz goal in Houston could see him get the nod in attack, chosen over Alberto Quintero.

Predicted XI (5-2-3): Mosquera; Murillo, Cummings, Escobar, Andrade, Davis; Godoy, Carrasquilla; Fajardo, Bárcenas, Díaz.

Qatar team news

No such luxury for Carlos Queiroz, who had to put out his strongest XI against Mexico, albeit they’ve had two days extra preparation time.

For that game, Queiroz switched to a back four, so it’ll be intersting to see if he sticks with this system.

Mohammed Waad went off on the cusp of half time, making him a doubt, with Ali Assadalla his most-likely deputy.

Mohammed Muntari could return up front, displacing Tameem Al-Abdullah.

Predicted XI (5-3-2): Barsham; Kheder, Salman, Suhail, Ahmed; Assadalla, Fatehi, Meshaal, Marafee, Shehata; Muntari.

CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals results & fixtures

CONCACAF Gold Cup Group B table

CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C table

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Panama vs Qatar betting tips: CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final preview, predictions, team news and odds