Heat turns up before England! Panama players clash at training, but coach sees a positive sign
Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
The Panama national team experienced an emotional moment during training ahead of their third-round 2026 World Cup clash with England. A misunderstanding between Cecilio Waterman and Puma Rodriguez quickly escalated into a brief altercation.
Details: Waterman shoved Rodriguez in the chest, but teammates swiftly intervened and prevented the conflict from escalating further.
The incident was quickly diffused, and training resumed as normal. Despite the heated moment, Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen refused to dramatize the situation.
According to the coach, incidents like this show the team is still alive and full of energy, even after a disappointing start to the tournament.
"It's a normal situation. Honestly, I'd like to see this more often. It means the team is alive. The players are prepared to give everything and are fighting for a spot in the starting lineup," Christiansen said.
Panama has already lost its chances of advancing to the playoffs after two narrow 0-1 defeats to Ghana and Croatia. Now, the team is preparing for the match against England and will be looking to finish the group stage with pride.
Reminder: Earlier, we reported that one of the defensive leaders sidelined for at least two World Cup 2026 matches
