The following is a match centre with betting tips for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group G fixture between Panama and Tunisia. The game kicks off on the 29th of June at 4:00 AM AEST. It will be broadcast live on SBS Viceland.
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Panama
- FIFA World Rank: 55
- Elo Rating: 48
- Qualifying: Third place in the CONCACAF Fifth Round with a 3-4-3 record.
Squad:
- Coach: Hernán Darío Gómez (Colombia)
- Goalkeepers: Jamie Penedo (Diname Bucharest), Jose Calderon (Chorrillo FC), Alex Rodriguez (San Francisco FC)
- Defenders: Harold Cummings (San Jose Earthquakes), Fidel Escobar (New York Red Bulls), Eric Davis (DAC Dunajska Streda), Felipe Baloy (CSD Munbicipal), Adolfo Machado (Houston Dynamo), Michael Murillo (New York Red Bulls), Luis Ovalle (Olimpia), Roman Torres (Seattl
- Midfielders: Edgar Barcenas (Cafetaleros de Tapachula), Armando Cooper (Universidad de Chile), Anibal Godoy (San Jose Earthquakes), Gabriel Gomez (Atletico Bucaramanga), Valentin Pimentel (Plaza Amador), Alberto Quintero (Universitario), Jose Luis Rodriguez (Ghent)
- Forwards: Abdiel Arroyo (Alajuelense), Ismael Diaz (Deportivo La Coruna), Blas Pérez (Municipal), Luis Tejada (Sport Boys), Gabriel Torres (Huachipato)
Recent results:
- England 6 – 1 Panama
24/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Belgium 3 – 0 Panama
18/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Norway 1 – 0 Panama
06/06/2018
Friendly, played in Norway - Panama 0 – 0 Northern Ireland
29/05/2018
Friendly, played in Panama - Trinidad and Tobago 0 – 1 Panama
18/04/2018
Friendly, played in Trinidad and Tobago - Switzerland 6 – 0 Panama
27/03/2018
Friendly, played in Switzerland - Denmark 1 – 0 Panama
22/03/2018
Friendly, played in Denmark - Wales 1 – 1 Panama
14/11/2017
Friendly, played in Wales - Iran 2 – 1 Panama
09/11/2017
Friendly, played in Austria - Grenada 0 – 5 Panama
24/10/2017
Friendly, played in Grenada - Panama 2 – 1 Costa Rica
10/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Panama - USA 4 – 0 Panama
06/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in USA
Statistics: (last four years):
- H2H Record: 15-17-18
- O/U record
- O/U 0.5 record: 45-5
- O/U 1.5 record: 33-17
- O/U 2.5 record: 20-30
- O/U 3.5 record: 11-39
- O/U 4.5 record: 5-45
- O/U 5.5 record: 3-47
- Wins
- Total wins: 15
- Won by 1 goal: 9
- Won by 2 goals: 2
- Won by 3 goals: 2
- Won by 4 goals: 1
- Won by 5 goals: 1
- Won by 5+ goals: 0
- Won to nil 11
- Losses
- Total losses: 18
- Lost by 1 goal: 9
- Lost by 2 goals: 3
- Lost by 3 goals: 1
- Lost by 4 goals: 2
- Lost by 5 goals: 2
- Lost by 5+ goals: 1
- Lost to nil 13
- Clean Sheets and BTTS
- Total Games: 50
- Clean Sheets: 16
- Held Scoreless: 18
- Both Teams Scored: 21
Tunisia
- FIFA World Rank: 21
- Elo Rating: 49
- Qualifying: Won Group A with a 4-2-0 record in the CAF Third Round.
Squad:
- Coach: Nabil Maâloul
- Goalkeepers: Aymen Mathlouthi (Al Batin Saoudi/KSA), Farouk Ben Mustapha (Al Shabab Saoudi/KSA), Mouez Hassen (Chateauroux/FRA)
- Defenders: Hamdi Nagguez (Zamalek/EGY), Dylan Bronn (Ghent/BEL), Rami Bedoui (Etoile Sportive du Sahel), Yohan Benalouane (Leicester/ENG), Syam Ben Youssef (Kasimpasa/TUR), Yassine Meriah (Club Sportif Sfax), Oussama Haddadi (Dijon/FRA), Ali Maaloul (Al Ahli/EGY)
- Midfielders: Ellyes Skhiri (Montpellier/FRA), Mohamed Amine Ben Amor (Al Ahly/KSA), Ghaylene Chalali (Esperance Tunis), Ferjani Sassi (Al Nasr Saoudi/KSA), Ahmed Khalil (Club Africain), Saifeddine El Khaoui (Troyes/FRA)
- Forwards: Fakhreddine Ben Youssef (Al Ittifak/KSA), Anice Badri (Esperance), Bassem Srarfi (Nice/FRA), Wahbi Khazri (Rennes/FRA), Naim Sliti (Dijon/FRA), Saber Khalifa (Club Africain)
Recent results:
- Belgium 5 – 2 Tunisia
23/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Tunisia 1 – 2 England
18/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Tunisia 0 – 1 Spain
09/06/2018
Friendly, played in Russia - Turkey 2 – 2 Tunisia
01/06/2018
Friendly, played in Switzerland - Portugal 2 – 2 Tunisia
28/05/2018
Friendly, played in Portugal - Tunisia 1 – 0 Costa Rica
27/03/2018
Friendly, played in France - Tunisia 1 – 0 Iran
23/03/2018
Friendly, played in Tunisia - Tunisia 0 – 0 Libya
11/11/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Tunisia - Guinea 1 – 4 Tunisia
07/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Guinea - Congo DR 2 – 2 Tunisia
05/09/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Congo DR - Tunisia 2 – 1 Congo DR
01/09/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Tunisia - Morocco 1 – 0 Tunisia
28/03/2017
Friendly, played in Morocco
Statistics: (last four years):
- H2H Record: 22-16-13
- O/U record
- O/U 0.5 record: 46-5
- O/U 1.5 record: 34-17
- O/U 2.5 record: 23-28
- O/U 3.5 record: 12-39
- O/U 4.5 record: 8-43
- O/U 5.5 record: 4-47
- Wins
- Total wins: 22
- Won by 1 goal: 14
- Won by 2 goals: 3
- Won by 3 goals: 3
- Won by 4 goals: 0
- Won by 5 goals: 1
- Won by 5+ goals: 1
- Won to nil 11
- Losses
- Total losses: 13
- Lost by 1 goal: 9
- Lost by 2 goals: 3
- Lost by 3 goals: 1
- Lost by 4 goals: 0
- Lost by 5 goals: 0
- Lost by 5+ goals: 0
- Lost to nil 8
- Clean Sheets and BTTS
- Total Games: 51
- Clean Sheets: 16
- Held Scoreless: 13
- Both Teams Scored: 27
Group G Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
England (A) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 6 |
| 2 |  |
Belgium (A) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 6 |
| 3 |  |
Tunisia (E) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 0 |
| 4 |  |
Panama (E) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | -8 | 0 |
(E) Eliminated; (A) Advance
England sit above Belgium due to their superior fair play score: England −2, Belgium −3
Commentary
Panama lost the opening fixture of their first ever World Cup campaign 3-0 to Belgium. They managed to hold out the Belgians in the first half but ran out of resistance in the second spell. Offensively offered very little in reply. Panama then suffered a humiliating 6-1 defeat to England after trailing 5-0 at halftime. It was a dreadful, ill-disciplined performance, marked by two blatant penalties and a lack of organisation. Their second half goal gave the travelling Panamanian fans something to cheer about, but Panama will need to address their set-piece defending if they are to avoid conceding any penalties against Tunisia. In team news, Michael Murillo and Armando Cooper are both suspended for each receiving two yellow cards during the tournament. Discipline has been a big issue for Panama. They conceded five yellow cards against Belgium and another three against England. Defensively Panama have been the worst team in the tournament. They have conceded 9 goals from 13 shots on target.
Tunisia began their campaign with a 2-1 defeat to England. It took an injury-time goal for England to seal the win, but Tunisia were fortunate to receive a penalty while England had at least two genuine penalty appeals waived down and not referred to VAR. Tunisia’s only shot on target during that game was their penalty. Tunisia were then thrashed 5-2 by Belgium. Unlike in their game against England, the referee didn’t let penalty area infringements go and they conceded a 6th minute penalty. Two goals, including one in stoppage time, gave their fans some joy, but Tunisia were well beaten on the day. Injuries have plagued Tunisia for this tournament. In an injury-hit build up, talisman Youssef Msakni was ruled and they lost their first choice goalkeeper Mouez Hassen during the match against England and their second choice keeper Farouk Ben Mustapha during training following the Belgium game. That leaves Aymen Mathlouthi as the only available keeper in their squad. Central defender Dylan Bronn is also out after he injured his knee against Belgium. Tunisia are now winless (0-4-9) in their last 13 World Cup matches since beating Mexico in their first ever match in 1978.
Betting
bet365 odds (subject to change):
Compare the latest bookmaker odds for Panama vs. Tunisia
Tunisia have looked more convincing than Panama this tournament, which fits in with their FIFA World ranking of 21 coming into the tournament compared to Panama’s rank of 55, but Panama will be desperate to avoid three defeats in their first World Cup.
Given Panama have picked up 8 yellow cards so far this tournament while Tunisia have picked up just the one, I will back Panama to have a worse disciplinary record than their opponents during this clash.
Betting tip: back Panama -0.5 in the cards handicap market at 1.61 (Unibet)
Notes
- FIFA World rankings are from the 7th of June and sourced from https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/index.html
- The World Football Elo Ratings are from the 11th of June and are based on the Elo rating system, developed by Dr. Arpad Elo. This system is used by the international chess federation to rate chess players and is considered by many to be a superior rating tool to the one used by FIFA. The ratings have been sourced from https://www.eloratings.net/.
- Squad lists sourced from http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12098/11374464/every-world-cup-squad-listed-argentina-brazil-russia-and-more