PANAMA CITY — Both Mexico and Panama will look different in their World Cup qualifier than they did just four days before.
Mexico will be without three players who saw time in Friday's 2-1 win over the United States. Andres Guardado is missing out because of injury, Carlos Salcedo because of suspension and Carlos Vela for the birth of his child.
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The biggest issue for Mexico is in the midfield. That much was obvious against the U.S., when Guardado's injury swung the balance in the game. Rafa Marquez, who moved up from center back, survived but didn't thrive next to Hector Herrera. Coach Juan Carlos Osorio may not keep things the same, but if wanted to maintain the formation that troubled the U.S., or even if he switches his alignment, he could turn to Jonathan dos Santos or Jesus Duenas.
Salcedo's suspension doesn't cause as much of a problem. Diego Reyes is able to play the right back role, where Salcedo came in as a substitute for Reyes after Mexico reworked its lineup after Guardado's departure. Duenas also can line up at the position, or Mexico could elect to play three at the back — a distinct possibility if Panama again plays Blas Perez as a lone striker.
Luis Tejada, who has often partnered with Perez, worked away from the rest of the team at training Sunday with a knock. Gabriel Torres could provide a quicker option for Panama to partner with veteran Perez.
Things are interesting up front, where Osorio will be lamenting the fact that his fearsome four of Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, Jesus "Tecatito" Corona, Giovani dos Santos and Vela won't be back in action days after starting together for the first time. The attacking depth in the team is vaunted for a reason, though. Hirving Lozano started most of the Copa America Centenario, while Marco Fabian is getting starts with Frankfurt.
While Mexico's absences have gotten most of the attention before the match, the home team also will be forced to make changes from Friday's 1-0 win over Honduras. Both Felipe Baloy and Armando Cooper were booked in the contest, triggering suspensions for yellow card accumulation.
That takes some of the grit out a Panama side that's known for it, but if Roman Torres is fit enough to slide in at center back next to Fidel Escobar then there will still be an intimidating pairing in the middle of defense. Amilcar Henriquez may be able to be a like-for-like change for Toronto FC midfielder Cooper. The 33-year-old Henriquez went the full 90 in last month's friendly against Mexico, but this will be an entirely different game, and the team certainly loses something when Cooper isn't available.
How will these absences change anything? As you can see, there's a chance they won't affect much. Both teams have ready-made replacements on the bench for the players who aren't available.
Panama's depth will be tested, as will Torres' fitness after missing both legs of the Seattle Sounders' Western Conference semifinal against FC Dallas because of the hamstring problem. Can he go 90 minutes? If not, a fullback could replace Adolfo Machado on the right side and push him over or Harold Cummings could come in directly, which may be the better option with the Alajuelense man profiling as a left-footed player.
What this does do is make the battle in the middle of the park more interesting. Mexico dominated a confused U.S. early, but the center will be key with Hernan Gomez's Panama team always looking to transition quickly to the attack the moment the ball is recovered. How Guardado's replacement performs will be critical for El Tri if they're going to start qualification with a dream six points on the road.
