Our football match prediction:
Panama
Match Time & Date:
28/06/2018
19:00 GMT
Prediction: 1-2
Tunisia
Panama and Tunisia, the two teams who failed to make it to the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup finals, take on each at Mordovia Arena on Thursday afternoon. Their pride is undisputedly at stake and we predict that both sides are going to adopt an attack-minded approach in Thursday’s football match. Panam have been struggling at the back at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which is probably the main reason why we are tempted to put our money on the Eagles of Carthage. Wahbi Khazri, who scored a consolation goal for Tunisia in the 5-2 loss to Belgium, will be the man to watch in Nabil Maaloul’s team. The two sides meet for the first time ever on the international stage and, taking everything into account, there is a big value in betting on Tunisia, who are more of a team than Panama, who failed to impress in the 6-1 loss to England.
Highlighted Player (Armando Cooper):
Armando Cooper is an attacking midfielder who plays for both Toronto FC and Panama national football team. After spending his youth career at Arabe Unido, Cooper began playing for Arabe Unido at senior level. The Panama footballer scored 26 goals in 141 appearances in the league for los Arabes and during the 2010/2011 season he was on Godoy Cruz’s radar. In the summer of 2011 he signed a contract with the Argentine club, but he was playing below expectations in the Argentine Primera Division, scoring only three goals in 26 appearances for the Tomba. Armando Cooper moved to Europe in 2015 and he played seven games for St. Pauli in 2. Bundesliga, but he quickly returned to Panama. The midfielder returned to Arabe Unido for the 2015/2016 season, but he was soon loaned to MLS club Toronto. Armando Cooper signed a permanent deal with the Reds after the 2016 MLS Cup playoffs and he has been playing for the club ever since. Cooper made his Panama debut on October 7, 2006 against El Salvador.
Highlighted Team (Tunisia):
Tunisia are considered one of the most successful African teams. Les Aigles de Carthage (Eagles of Carthage) made their 18th appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015, with the team suffering elimination in the quarter-finals of the tournament. In 2004 Tunisia won their first and only Africa Cup of Nations trophy as they defeated Morocco in the title game. Jaziri and Santos scored for the Eagles of Carthage in the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations final, with Mokhtari scoring a consolation goal for Morocco. Tunisia played in the final of the tournament in 1965 and 1996 as well, but they eventually finished as runners-up. Speaking of their appearances at the FIFA World Cup finals, the Tunisian national team participated at the major tournament on four occasions (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006), but they failed to make it to the knockout stages of the tournament. The colour of Tunisia’s home kit is white, while they play their away matches in red shirts and red shorts. Radhi Jaidi is the player with most caps for Tunisia (105).
