Guatemala occupies third place in Group A with five points, while Panama shares the lead with Suriname, both with six units. «With our football, we managed to silence that atmosphere a bit, and we will try to do the same tomorrow,» he warned. The strategist, who has «a lot of appreciation» for his counterpart Luis Fernando Tena, admitted that a lack of effectiveness has been Panama's shortcoming, but urged to look forward. Panama declined the pitch inspection at El Trébol «to calmly work on our set pieces». The decisive match will be played this Thursday at the Manuel Felipe Carrera stadium («El Trébol») at 20:00 local time (02:00 GMT Friday). A win for Christiansen's team in Guatemala would eliminate the hosts from the race for first place, leaving Panama with the upper hand for the final match against El Salvador. If they draw, the definition will be moved to the last matchday, and a Panamanian defeat opens up the group and forces the Canaleros to seek a heavy result in the final match. Christiansen: «Guatemala has the pressure; it is a challenge to win here». The low call-up forced the summoning of an extra player «to cover our backs» and, regarding Michael Amir Murillo, he said that «he has traveled with the team, he is one more». Panama's coach, Thomas Christiansen. Guatemala City, Nov 13 (EFE). - Panama's coach, Thomas Christiansen, stated this Wednesday that his players face a «challenge» and have the «illusion» of winning for the first time in Guatemala in a World Cup qualifier, and transferred the nervousness to the local team, which is experiencing a «historic moment» and has «quite a bit of pressure». At the press conference prior to the crucial match this Thursday at the Manuel Felipe Carrera stadium, south of the Guatemalan capital, where the loser could say goodbye to the 2026 World Cup, Christiansen referred to the unexpected absence of defender Edgardo Fariña, who did not travel to Guatemala for «a migration issue». «It's something that is not my responsibility,» he said, after calling it a matter «beyond our reach». Christiansen, who had seen the grass on a previous visit, preferred it over the synthetic surface, and although he described it as «a bit irregular,» he said it was «nothing to worry about». The Danish-Spanish coach downplayed the match as a single final, noting: «We have had six or we are going to have six finals». Christiansen acknowledged the «hostile» atmosphere that awaits them, similar to the one in El Salvador, but he called it «beautiful».
