90min
·1 July 2024
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Yahoo sports90min
·1 July 2024
Bolivia and Panama go head-to-head in the final Group C matchday at Copa America 2024.
Even though Bolivia have zero points on the board after two defeats to the USMNT and Uruguay, the South American national still have a very, very slim chance at qualifying for the quarter-finals -- but they'll need some luck in doing so. Bolivia have yet to score a goal at the tournament, and they would need to pick up three points against Panama -- while also recovering their -7 goal difference -- and hope that the USMNT fall against Uruguay.
Panama's path to the quarter-finals is much more attainable than Bolivia's, but they'll also need some help from group leaders Uruguay to reach the knockout stage. Uruguay have all but confirmed their place in the last eight of the competition, and Panama would prefer that the 15-time Copa America champions come out victorious over the USMNT so that all they would need is a draw against Bolivia to progress.
However, Panama might look to come away with three points regardless of the Uruguay-USMNT result to give themselves the best chance at reaching the quarter-finals. If the USMNT manage to pick up just one point vs Uruguay, Panama would then reach the last eight of Copa America with a straightforward victory or a draw with equal or better goal difference.
Here's 90min's guide to Bolivia vs Panama at Copa America 2024.
Yomar Rocha picked up a knock vs Uruguay / Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/GettyImages
Boliva have two fresh injury concerns in their camp, both in the full-back department. Yomar Rocha suffered a knock in the defeat to Uruguay, while Robert Fernandez also picked up a knock in the loss to the USMNT. Although Fernandez managed to play 45 minutes against Uruguay, Rocha's status remains up in the air for the Panama clash.
Bolivia also have four players sitting on yellow cards: Jesus Sagredo, Luis Haquin, Leonel Justiniano and Rocha. Should either of the players listed receive another yellow card againt Panama, they would then miss Bolivia's quarter-final match should they progress to the next round.
Bolivia predicted lineup vs Panama ( 5-3-2 ): Viscarra; Medina, Cuellar, Haquin, Sagredo, Fernandez; Cespedes, Villamil, Justiniano; Terceros, Algaranaz.
Panama will have to make do without Coco Carrasquilla / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
One of Panama's most exciting players in Adalberto 'Coco' Carrasquilla saw red against the USMNT, as the Houston Dynamo figure was sent off for a late challenge on Christian Pulisic that sparked a scrum between the two squads. Carrasquilla will miss the Bolivia clash but would be available for selection should Panama reach the last eight.
Jose Luis Rodriguez came off late in the defeat to Uruguay with an injury and didn't feature vs the USA, and his status is up in the air for the match. Panama's Jovani Welch, Freddy Gondola, Edgardo Farina and Eduardo Guerrero could miss a quarter-final contest with another booking as they all sit on one yellow card through two matches played.
Panama predicted lineup vs Bolivia ( 5-4-1 ): Mosquera; Murillo, Farina, Cordoba, Miller, Davis; Blackman, Martinez, Ayarza, Barcenas; Fajardo.
Since Bolivia still have a chance -- a very small chance at that -- of qualifying, you can expect them to come out fighting to give themselves a chance at reaching the knockout stage. However, even without Carrasquilla in the side, Panama have too much quality in their squad to not come away with anything less than a point vs Bolivia.
It'll be close, but the Central American nation will come away with three huge points to book their place in the Copa America quarter-finals with a little help from group leader Uruguay.
Prediction: Bolivia 0- 1 Panama