BRONDBY, Denmark - There were plenty of positives for Panama Head Coach Hernan Dario Gomez to take away from Panama's narrow 1-0 defeat at Denmark in an international friendly on Thursday in Brondy.
"If one does an analysis and considers that we hadn't trained in three months, the long trips, facing a Denmark which is one of the biggest teams in Europe, I think we had moments of a tactical, orderly team," said Gomez in his post-match press conference. "That's important. It was dignified."
The Canaleros were locked in a stalemate with the European side well into the second half, but a Blas Perez red-card in the 66' paved the way for the lone goal of the match from Pione Sisto in the 69'.
But for Gomez it was the effort and performance of his squad that mattered the most, not the final score.
"I think that the boys did a good, serious job. At times we took away their inspiration. I feel like we are on our way to being a team, but it is not going to be easy," said Gomez.
Next up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup side is a Tuesday clash in Lucerne against Switzerland.
With Panama scheduled to face both Belgium and England in the World Cup group stage, the 90 minutes against the Swiss offers another chance to measure themselves against European competition.
"It's about getting ourselves used to European football and not go into the World Cup surprised," concluded Gomez.
