Panama coach Dely Valdes has included nine players from the country’s 2018 World Cup squad in his 18-man list for a friendly against Brazil later this month.
Among them are Alaves midfielder Jose Rodriguez, New York Red Bulls defender Michael Amir Murillo and LA Galaxy midfielder Ernesto Walker, the Panamanian Football Federation said on Monday.
The squad also includes uncapped 20-year-old right-back Cesar Blackman, who plays his club football for Slovakia’s FC DAC 1904.
The mach, to be played at Porto’s Estadio do Dragao on March 23, will be Panama’s first since former Paris Saint-Germain striker Dely Valdes replaced Englishman Gary Stempel as head coach last month.
Panama lost each of their three group matches at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the team’s first appearance in football’s showpiece tournament.
Following is the Panama squad:
Goalkeepers: Luis Mejia (Club Nacional), Orlando Mosquera (Tauro FC).
Defenders: Michael Amir Murillo (NY Red Bulls), Cesar Blackman (FC DAC 1904), Adolfo Machado (The Strongest), Harold Cummings (San Jose Earthquakes), Jan Carlos Vargas (Tauro FC) , Fidel Escobar (Correcaminos), Eric Davis (FC DAC 1904.
Midfielders: Alberto Quintero (University Club), Ernesto Walker (LA Galaxy), Omar Browne (Independent Athletic), Anibal Godoy (San Jose Earthquakes), Armando Cooper (Maccabi Petah-Tikva, Jose Luis Rodriguez (Alaves).
Forwards: Alfredo Stephens (CD Santa Clara), Gabriel Torres (Universidad de Chile), Jose Fajardo (Al-Kawkab).