We look ahead to this 2023 Women’s World Cup Group F fixture at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide with our Brazil vs Panama preview and prediction.
Brazil vs Panama Stats: Quick Hits
- Brazil are huge favourites for this meeting with Panama, with the Opta supercomputer giving them a 93.8% chance of victory.
- Panama are Women’s World Cup debutants in 2023, while Brazil have played in every single edition of the tournament.
- Marta will become the first man or woman to score in six World Cup tournaments if she nets against Panama.
Match Preview
Brazil will be expected to make a flying start to their FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign on Monday when they take on tournament debutants Panama in Adelaide.
While Panama are newbies at this level, Brazil are stalwarts. They’ve taken part in every edition of the Women’s World Cup, with this their ninth appearance. No other South American nation can match their pedigree.
Given the vastly different reputations of the two nations, there’s every chance this could be a very long day for Panama, who will be intent on keeping the score as low as possible.
After all, Brazil typically start the Women’s World Cup well. Of the countries to have played in at least three editions of the tournament, Brazil are the only team to have won each of their opening matches. They’ve kept seven clean sheets across those eight games and enjoyed an aggregate score of 23-1.
To be fair, Brazil’s reputation extends far beyond just Matchday one games, losing only one of their previous 18 group matches at the Women’s World Cup, with that coming to Australia in 2019 – that was the only one of their past 12 first-round fixtures they’ve conceded in.
Make no mistake, a Panama victory would be a huge shock, potentially one of the biggest in Women’s World Cup history. It would also see them become the first Concacaf nation to win their debut match at the tournament since the United States in 1991.
But with Brazil boasting quality and experience, it’s difficult to envisage a surprise.
Marta, now 37 years old, fits into both categories and will be chasing another record. She’s already the all-time leading scorer at the Women’s World Cup (17 in 20 games), and she could become the first player – man or woman – to score in six editions of the World Cup if she nets against Panama.
An icon of Brazilian football, Marta is set to call time on her international career after this tournament; she’ll be eager to leave on a high.
Brazil vs Panama Head-to-Head
Brazil and Panama have never faced each other before, which perhaps isn’t that surprising given they’re from different confederations and the latter will be appearing at the World Cup for the first time.
Nevertheless, Brazil have played Concacaf opposition at the Women’s World Cup before. In four such matches, Brazil have amassed three wins and a draw, keeping three clean sheets across those fixtures. In the past 12 months they have lost to Canada (twice) and the United States, however, with two of those defeats coming earlier this year.
Panama most recently played a South American team in June when they drew 1-1 with Colombia. Since then, though, their final two World Cup preparation games have seen them concede 13 times without reply.
They were beaten 7-0 by Spain on 29 June and then lost 5-0 to Japan earlier this month.
Brazil vs Panama Prediction
In one of the most one-sided predictions by the Opta supercomputer at this tournament; Brazil are given a 93.8% chance of beating Panama. So, you don’t need us to tell you how unlikely an upset is here…
But we’ll tell you anyway.
Panama have just a 2.1% probability of winning, while the draw is at 5.1%. That gives obviously gives them a 7.2% likelihood of getting at least a point.
If Panama pull something off here, it’ll go down in Women’s World Cup folklore forever – though it’s seemingly rather more likely that Brazil have a field day.
Brazil vs Panama Squads
Brazil: Bárbara, Antônia, Kathellen, Rafaelle, Luana, Tamires, Andressa Alves, Ana Vitória, Debinha, Marta, Adriana, Letícia Izidoro, Bruninha, Lauren, Duda, Bia Zaneratto, Ary Borges, Geyse, Mônica, Angelina, Kerolin, Camila, Gabi Nunes.
Panama: Sasha Fábrega, Hilary Jaén, Wendy Natis, Katherine Castillo, Yomira Pinzón, Deysiré Salazar, Emily Cedeño, Schiandra González, Karla Riley, Marta Cox, Natalia Mills, Yenith Bailey, Riley Tanner, Carmen Montenegro, Rosario Vargas, Rebeca Espinosa, Laurie Batista, Erika Hernández, Lineth Cedeño, Aldrith Quintero, Nicole De Obaldía, Farissa Córdoba, Carina Baltrip-Reyes.
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