USA set to face physical Panama in Copa América group match

ATLANTA — United States coach Gregg Berhalter said his team is ready for whatever Panama might try in Thursday’s Copa América group stage match, including any turmoil, an element essential to the game of Concacaf and CONMEBOL.

“We’re not afraid of physicality,” Berhalter told reporters Wednesday. “We like that in matches, and it’s never a problem for us. For us, it’s just about accepting what a particular match brings, and if it’s the physicality, everything will be fine, We will be able to handle this.”

A USMNT victory over Panama on Thursday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, combined with a win or draw by Uruguay against Bolivia, would allow the Americans to advance to the round of 16 ahead of the group finale against Uruguay next week.

Berhalter said midfielder Tyler Adams was available for selection after playing the first half Saturday against Bolivia in his first start for the USMNT since March. Berhalter also praised the USMNT’s tournament-opening victory over Bolivia after analyzing the film.

Panama is one of the USMNT’s most well-known opponents and holds a 17-2-7 record against the Soca Warriors, including 6-1-5 in tournament play – all of whom have previously appeared in the Gold Cup in Concacaf.

Panama won on penalties in the last meeting between the teams in last year’s Gold Cup semi-final and head into Thursday’s match without a result after losing 3-1 to Uruguay on Saturday.

“I’m really expecting a team that’s going to compete really well,” USMNT midfielder Yunus Musah said. “They’re really aggressive, they’re really fit, a really strong team (that) also has a lot of quality, so I’m just expecting the game to be really intense.”

There is also a certain familiarity between the coaches. Berhalter said he knew Panama coach Thomas Christiansen well and saw what he was trying to get his team to do in Panama’s tournament opener against Uruguay.

“From what we saw, they had a lot of consistency with the group they played, especially the guys up top,” Berhalter said. “(The) back line has changed a bit, but really athletic wingers who like to attack the ball through the ball, central midfielders who like to control the game. So for us it’s a cohesive unit and it will be a good game.”