Panama fans follow World Cup dream

Scores of thousands of Panamanians found what President Varela had called
“creative” ways” to skip work on Monday, June 18 as their national football (soccer) team took to the field at 10 a,m. Panama time against Belgium in Sochi, Russia hoping to become a giant killer or at least stoppers like Mexico who the held reigning champions Germany to a 1-1 draw and Iceland with a team selected from a  tiny population with a pool of 100 professional players, holding Argentina to a 1-1 draw.

With no goals scored by halftime, Panama fans who had traveled to  Sochi to make up in volume what they lacked in numbers had cause for hope with Panama goalkeeper doing an outstanding job as Belgium players favored by some to go all the way in the tournament,  peppered him with shots from all angles.

At home, fans jammed in front of TV screens in restaurants, across the city and in public squares like Cinco de Mayo beat drums and waved flags and raised voices to the last kick as their team succumbed to a three-goal Belgium onslaught.

Costa Rica was upset by Serbia and Colombia became the first South American team to fall to an Asian side in the World Cup losing 1-0 to Japan.

Panama fans won’t have to skip work to see the match against England, on Sunday, June 24, but will have the chance to be creative for the game against Tunisia on June 28.