Former goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, a member of the team that played Panama's first-ever World Cup eight years ago in Russia, stated that the experience this tournament offers begins long before the ball starts rolling in the debut match. "You don't go to a World Cup just to participate, you go to compete," he said. "But it was also the first time, and perhaps we didn't fully know what we were getting into," he concluded with nostalgia. One of the most striking memories of the match against England in Sochi was the silence in the dressing room at halftime. "It was a dark, quiet dressing room," said the former player of Osasuna, Los Angeles Galaxy, Saprisa, and Dinamo Bucharest. "We started losing very early, from a free kick, then a corner and headers alone at the penalty spot. It was complicated," he admitted that several English goals came from defensive lapses. "As a goalkeeper, you're left with the 6-1. If I could remove that match from my resume, I would, but you can't lose like that in a World Cup," he admitted. However, one of the moments that impressed him the most happened even before he stepped onto the field: the flight to Russia. "From the plane, you start to feel the World Cup. It's sending you the message of what it means to be there," he recalled. Then comes one of the most emotional moments for any footballer: the debut. "Singing the anthem at a World Cup is something special. You sing it many times, but doing it on that stage, seeing your flag, is something that moves a lot," he affirmed. The 2018 World Cup left bittersweet moments: tough defeats against Belgium (3-0), England (6-1), and Tunisia (1-2), but also unforgettable ones, like Felipe Baloy's goal against the Three Lions. It was Panama's first in its World Cup history. "It's the biggest tournament in football," he declared. Recalling Panama's first experience, in which he was the protagonist, Penedo said that changes in perspective for the players begin from the qualifying stage itself. "When you enter a World Cup, another panorama opens up for you. But it was also the first time and maybe we didn't quite know what we were getting into," he concluded with nostalgia. The footballer admitted that Panama arrived at its first World Cup with enormous illusion, although also in the midst of a learning process. "We didn't just go to participate, we wanted to compete. I was happy for Felipe and for the people," he said. One of the most striking memories of the match against England in Sochi was the silence in the dressing room at halftime. "It was a dark, quiet dressing room," said the former player of Osasuna, Los Angeles Galaxy, Saprisa, and Dinamo Bucharest. "We started losing very early, from a free kick, then a corner and headers alone at the penalty spot. It was complicated," he admitted that several English goals came from defensive lapses. "As a goalkeeper, you're left with the 6-1. If I could remove that match from my resume, I would, but you can't lose like that in a World Cup," he admitted. However, one of the moments that impressed him the most happened even before he stepped onto the field: the flight to Russia. "From the plane, you start to feel the World Cup. It's sending you the message of what it means to be there," he recalled. Then comes one of the most emotional moments for any footballer: the debut. "Singing the anthem at a World Cup is something special. You sing it many times, but doing it on that stage, seeing your flag, is something that moves a lot," he affirmed. The 2018 World Cup left bittersweet moments: tough defeats against Belgium (3-0), England (6-1), and Tunisia (1-2), but also unforgettable ones, like Felipe Baloy's goal against the Three Lions. It was Panama's first in its World Cup history. "It's the biggest tournament in football," he declared. Recalling Panama's first experience, in which he was the protagonist, Penedo said that changes in perspective for the players begin from the qualifying stage itself. "When you enter a World Cup, another panorama opens up for you. But it was also the first time and maybe we didn't quite know what we were getting into," he concluded with nostalgia. The footballer admitted that Panama arrived at its first World Cup with enormous illusion, although also in the midst of a learning process. "We didn't just go to participate, we wanted to compete. I was happy for Felipe and for the people," he said. In their World Cup debut, the Panamanian national team was drawn in Group G, with England, Belgium, and Tunisia. Among the players who impressed him the most: the Belgians Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, and Harry Kane, whom he described as figures who combined technique, physical power, and precision at a very high level. Penedo also recalled that the then-coach, Colombian Hernán Gómez, asked him for a special favor: to share a room with midfielder Armando Cooper. "He told me: Flaco, I need to ask you a favor. I want Cooper to be your roommate," he commented. Explaining that usually, in concentrations with an odd number of players, he would end up alone, but then the coach wanted to keep Cooper 'more focused' on his preparation. "Armando and several in the group played a lot of PlayStation, so the idea was to put him with someone calmer," he joked. However, the plan took an unexpected turn. "Instead of taking him to my room, we ended up in his, which was practically the team's PlayStation center," he said with a laugh. Penedo admitted that Panama arrived at its first World Cup with enormous illusion, although also in the midst of a learning process. "We didn't just go to participate, we wanted to compete. I was happy for Felipe and for the people," he said. In their World Cup debut, the Panamanian national team was drawn in Group G, with England, Belgium, and Tunisia. Among the players who impressed him the most: the Belgians Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, and Harry Kane, whom he described as figures who combined technique, physical power, and precision at a very high level. Penedo also recalled that the then-coach, Colombian Hernán Gómez, asked him for a special favor: to share a room with midfielder Armando Cooper. "He told me: Flaco, I need to ask you a favor. I want Cooper to be your roommate," he commented. Explaining that usually, in concentrations with an odd number of players, he would end up alone, but then the coach wanted to keep Cooper 'more focused' on his preparation. "Armando and several in the group played a lot of PlayStation, so the idea was to put him with someone calmer," he joked. However, the plan took an unexpected turn. "Instead of taking him to my room, we ended up in his, which was practically the team's PlayStation center," he said with a laugh. Penedo admitted that Panama arrived at its first World Cup with enormous illusion, although also in the midst of a learning process. "We didn't just go to participate, we wanted to compete. I was happy for Felipe and for the people," he said. In their World Cup debut, the Panamanian national team was drawn in Group G, with England, Belgium, and Tunisia. Among the players who impressed him the most: the Belgians Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, and Harry Kane, whom he described as figures who combined technique, physical power, and precision at a very high level. Penedo also recalled that the then-coach, Colombian Hernán Gómez, asked him for a special favor: to share a room with midfielder Armando Cooper. "He told me: Flaco, I need to ask you a favor. I want Cooper to be your roommate," he commented. Explaining that usually, in concentrations with an odd number of players, he would end up alone, but then the coach wanted to keep Cooper 'more focused' on his preparation. "Armando and several in the group played a lot of PlayStation, so the idea was to put him with someone calmer," he joked. However, the plan took an unexpected turn. "Instead of taking him to my room, we ended up in his, which was practically the team's PlayStation center," he said with a laugh. "Instead of taking him to my room, we ended up in his, which was practically the team's PlayStation center," he said with a laugh. "Everything was set up: the pillows, the sheets, the sandals, all with the image of the tournament. European teams, 'top 10' national teams, want to play with you." "I was happy for Felipe and for the people," he said. One of the most striking memories of the match against England in Sochi was the silence in the dressing room at halftime. "It was a dark, quiet dressing room," said the former player of Osasuna, Los Angeles Galaxy, Saprisa, and Dinamo Bucharest. "We started losing very early, from a free kick, then a corner and headers alone at the penalty spot. It was complicated," he admitted that several English goals came from defensive lapses. "As a goalkeeper, you're left with the 6-1. If I could remove that match from my resume, I would, but you can't lose like that in a World Cup," he admitted. However, one of the moments that impressed him the most happened even before he stepped onto the field: the flight to Russia. "From the plane, you start to feel the World Cup. It's sending you the message of what it means to be there," he recalled. Then comes one of the most emotional moments for any footballer: the debut. "Singing the anthem at a World Cup is something special. You sing it many times, but doing it on that stage, seeing your flag, is something that moves a lot," he affirmed. The 2018 World Cup left bittersweet moments: tough defeats against Belgium (3-0), England (6-1), and Tunisia (1-2), but also unforgettable ones, like Felipe Baloy's goal against the Three Lions. It was Panama's first in its World Cup history. "It's the biggest tournament in football," he declared. Recalling Panama's first experience, in which he was the protagonist, Penedo said that changes in perspective for the players begin from the qualifying stage itself. "When you enter a World Cup, another panorama opens up for you. But it was also the first time and maybe we didn't quite know what we were getting into," he concluded with nostalgia. The footballer admitted that Panama arrived at its first World Cup with enormous illusion, although also in the midst of a learning process. "We didn't just go to participate, we wanted to compete. I was happy for Felipe and for the people," he said. In their World Cup debut, the Panamanian national team was drawn in Group G, with England, Belgium, and Tunisia. Among the players who impressed him the most: the Belgians Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, and Harry Kane, whom he described as figures who combined technique, physical power, and precision at a very high level. Penedo also recalled that the then-coach, Colombian Hernán Gómez, asked him for a special favor: to share a room with midfielder Armando Cooper. "He told me: Flaco, I need to ask you a favor. I want Cooper to be your roommate," he commented. Explaining that usually, in concentrations with an odd number of players, he would end up alone, but then the coach wanted to keep Cooper 'more focused' on his preparation. "Armando and several in the group played a lot of PlayStation, so the idea was to put him with someone calmer," he joked. However, the plan took an unexpected turn. "Instead of taking him to my room, we ended up in his, which was practically the team's PlayStation center," he said with a laugh. "Instead of taking him to my room, we ended up in his, which was practically the team's PlayStation center," he said with a laugh. "Everything was set up: the pillows, the sheets, the sandals, all with the image of the tournament. European teams, 'top 10' national teams, want to play with you." "I was happy for Felipe and for the people," he said. One of the most striking memories of the match against England in Sochi was the silence in the dressing room at halftime. "It was a dark, quiet dressing room," said the former player of Osasuna, Los Angeles Galaxy, Saprisa, and Dinamo Bucharest. "We started losing very early, from a free kick, then a corner and headers alone at the penalty spot. It was complicated," he admitted that several English goals came from defensive lapses. "As a goalkeeper, you're left with the 6-1. If I could remove that match from my resume, I would, but you can't lose like that in a World Cup," he admitted. However, one of the moments that impressed him the most happened even before he stepped onto the field: the flight to Russia. "From the plane, you start to feel the World Cup. It's sending you the message of what it means to be there," he recalled. Then comes one of the most emotional moments for any footballer: the debut. "Singing the anthem at a World Cup is something special. You sing it many times, but doing it on that stage, seeing your flag, is something that moves a lot," he affirmed. The 2018 World Cup left bittersweet moments: tough defeats against Belgium (3-0), England (6-1), and Tunisia (1-2), but also unforgettable ones, like Felipe Baloy's goal against the Three Lions. It was Panama's first in its World Cup history. "It's the biggest tournament in football," he declared. Recalling Panama's first experience, in which he was the protagonist, Penedo said that changes in perspective for the players begin from the qualifying stage itself. "When you enter a World Cup, another panorama opens up for you. But it was also the first time and maybe we didn't quite know what we were getting into," he concluded with nostalgia. The footballer admitted that Panama arrived at its first World Cup with enormous illusion, although also in the midst of a learning process. "We didn't just go to participate, we wanted to compete. I was happy for Felipe and for the people," he said. In their World Cup debut, the Panamanian national team was drawn in Group G, with England, Belgium, and Tunisia. Among the players who impressed him the most: the Belgians Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, and Harry Kane, whom he described as figures who combined technique, physical power, and precision at a very high level. Penedo also recalled that the then-coach, Colombian Hernán Gómez, asked him for a special favor: to share a room with midfielder Armando Cooper. "He told me: Flaco, I need to ask you a favor. I want Cooper to be your roommate," he commented. Explaining that usually, in concentrations with an odd number of players, he would end up alone, but then the coach wanted to keep Cooper 'more focused' on his preparation. "Armando and several in the group played a lot of PlayStation, so the idea was to put him with someone calmer," he joked. However, the plan took an unexpected turn. "Instead of taking him to my room, we ended up in his, which was practically the team's PlayStation center," he said with a laugh. "Instead of taking him to my room, we ended up in his, which was practically the team's PlayStation center," he said with a laugh. "Everything was set up: the pillows, the sheets, the sandals, all with the image of the tournament. European teams, 'top 10' national teams, want to play with you.".
