Footage of an error-strewn training session by England’s group stage opponents Panama has prompted fans to claim the Three Lions will thrash the World Cup minnows.
Panama, who will be competing at their second World Cup, held an opening training session earlier this week for their fans before heading to the United States.
Footage from the session was also broadcast as the team prepared for a warm-up match against the Dominican Republic.
Concerns were raised over the quality on show at the Rommel Fernandez Gutierrez Stadium, after the Panama national team stated it had placed a focus on finishing drills and offensive work in the session.
One clip showed a long ball being clipped over defenders for Panama attackers to run onto, with a square ball finding one of the forwards in front of goal.
The striker was seen stumbling as he attempted to control the ball, before seeing his shot comfortably stopped by the goalkeeper.
Fans expressed concern over the level of England’s World Cup opponents Panama following a training session
Footage showed one Panama player struggling to control the ball in front of goal, before seeing a shot comfortably saved
Fans highlighted the poor control of another Panama player during the open training session
Footage also showed an overhit pass going beyond the attackers and straight through to the goalkeeper.
Fans further questioned the level of technical quality on show, with footage also showing players miscontrolling the ball on several occasions.
‘If our number 9 receives the little ball like that, it’s lights out and we’re done. I don’t even critique the finishing anymore,’ one Panama fan responded.
‘What hope do we have,’ responded another, with a third writing ‘Please take down this video because we’re dying of embarrassment.’
Others suggested that Panama could find themselves on the end of a thrashing when they face England, with the likes of Harry Kane having the opportunity to score freely.
‘Harry Kane will end up as the World Cup’s top scorer purely because of the match against Panama,’ one said.
‘Harry Kane is going to break Just Fontaine’s record,’ claimed another, referring to the French forward who scored thirteen goals in six matches at the 1958 World Cup.
‘England are putting double digits past these,’ another fan wrote.
Despite the training session attracting mockery on social media, Thomas Christiansen’s side earned a 4-2 win in their World Cup warm-up match against the Dominican Republic on Wednesday.
Panama will be England’s final opponents in the group stage on June 27, following matches against Croatia and Ghana.
England supporters will hope Thomas Tuchel’s side have already sealed their place in the knock-out stage before facing Panama, who are ranked 33rd in the world.
It will be the second time England will face Panama at the World Cup, with Kane scoring a hat-trick as the Three Lions won 6-1 in their meeting at the 2018 tournament in Russia.
With the United States, Canada and Mexico not involved in qualifying due to their status as co-hosts, Panama had been the highest ranked nation in CONCACAF qualification for the 2026 finals.
Panama ultimately eased through the second round of qualifying by beating Belize, Nicaragua, Guyana and Montserrat.
Their second participation at the World Cup was sealed after winning their group in the third round, ending with an unbeaten record of three wins and three draws from matches against El Salvador, Guatemala and Suriname.
