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Norway vs Panama Prediction & Betting tips
The FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia will start in just over a week. For the participants in these days are thus the last test matches. On Wednesday evening the match between Norway and Panama takes place at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo. Panama has reached a World Cup finals for the first time in its history. Previously, the “red tide” in the qualifiers in Central and North America had always the league leaders Mexico, USA, Costa Rica or Honduras must let the passage. Of course the “Canaleros” drive to Russia as a big underdog. The Norwegians who missed the finals, on the other hand, want to prepare for the League of Nations with good performances. The last three test matches were won by the Vikings, which also beat World Cup participants Australia and Iceland.
Norway:
The Norwegians missed the World Cup qualification in Group C, in which also champion Germany played. In ten games, there were four wins, one draw and five defeats. Among them were, for example, a 0-1 defeat in Azerbaijan and a 0: 6 in Germany. That was enough in the end only for fourth place. Since February 2017 Norway has been coached by the Swedish coach legend Lars Lagerbäck. The Swede led Iceland as coach at the European Championship 2016 in the quarterfinals. But Lagerbäck had taken over the team of his predecessor Per-Mathias Högmo on the fifth and penultimate place in the World Cup qualification and could not save much. The coach tries to rejuvenate the team. Only three players are over 30 years old. In the squad of Norwegians are only legionnaires. Currently, the Norwegians are only ranked 48th in the FIFA World Ranking.
So far, the Norsemen could participate only three times in a World Cup finals (1938, 1994 and 1998). In 1998, it was at least in the World Cup in the second round. In the European Championship finals Norway could participate only once (2000). Among Lagerbäck there have been five wins, two draws and four defeats so far. In March they defeated World Cup participants Australia 4-1 at home and last Saturday the Vikings won 3-2 in Iceland. In the last eleven international matches, there were “only” three defeats. Six games of it could win the team. At home, the Norwegians have been without defeat for six games. In the Nations League, Lars Lagerbäck’s men will face Slovenia, Bulgaria and Cyprus in September.
Panama:
In the World Cup qualification Panama finished second in the CONCACAF Group B behind Costa Rica. In the following group of six, there were three direct World Cup tickets. With three wins, four draws and three defeats reached the trained by Colombian Hernan Dario Gomez team at the end with 13 points in third place. It was particularly dramatic in the last game against Costa Rica. Here, the “Red Tide” benefited in a 1-1 equalizer from a phantom goal. In the 53rd minute, a ball from Gabriel Torres was clearly cleared in front of the line and then played by a defender clearly on the post over the finish. Referee Walter Lopez still decided on goal for Panama. In the end, the “Canaleros” won the match 2-1. In addition, the Central Americans benefited from the 1: 2 defeat of the United States in the last qualifying match at Trinidad and Tobago.
President Juan Carlos Varela proclaimed the day after the triumph, the 11th of October, a national holiday. At the World Cup in Russia, Panama will face Belgium, Tunisia and England in Group G. While many fans and experts would certainly expect that Panama is already satisfied with the participation in the finals, they have proclaimed the round of 16 in Panama as a goal. Panama is currently ranked 55th in the FIFA World Rankings. In the last six internationals, there was only one victory, 1-0 against Trinidad & Tobago. But there was a 1: 2 against Iran or a 0: 6 against Switzerland. Last Wednesday there was a 0-0 draw against Northern Ireland at Rommel Fernandez Stadium in Panama City. The record under coach Gomez is 25 wins, 19 draws and 24 defeats.