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VIDEO: TORONTO -- With just hours to go before kick-off of a CONCACAF World Cup qualifying semifinal round game, which could well prove historic for his Panamanian team, head coach Julio Dely Valdes isn't tipping his hand in terms of a starting lineup against Canada.
"I have the team ready, but anything can happen between now and match time," the coach told reporters. "The most important thing is that we have the whole team ready, we're raring to go, and the practices have been unusually good."
A tie would be an excellent result for group leader Panama, but the long-time international forward said that his team has no plans to dedicate itself solely to defending as the Central Americans look for their first-ever win on Canadian soil.
"We'll play the same way as always, defending when it's time to defend, and never renouncing the attack, going forward into the rival's area," continued Dely Valdes.
The Panamanian squad is unanimous in expecting another tough evening in Canada, where the Canaleros have never won. The host could take the group lead with a win, and put itself in a good position to qualify for the hexagonal round of CONCACAF qualifiers for the first time since 1998 World Cup qualifying.
"We know Canada is going to be a tough team, and that we're going to have to work hard," added Alberto Quintero. "But that's what we're here for."
