Briton Bev Priestman, coach of the Canadian women’s soccer team, assured this Thursday that during the match between her team and Panama this Friday in the Concacaf W championship, she will be careful not to be surprised by counter-attacks of Central Americans.

“Our midfield has to dominate and take a step forward to deal with their counterattacks. Panama have the ability to play straight and run behind our defence, we also have to be careful with set pieces,” said the coach who led Canada to the final. Olympic gold medal in Tokyo 2020.

Canada will face Panama on Matchday 2 of Group B of the W Championship, chasing a ticket to the 2023 Australia-New Zealand World Cup.

The Concacaf tournament distributes four direct places at the World Cup for the first two places in each sector and one at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games for the champion.

The Olympic monarchs are in first place in Group B after beating Trinidad and Tobago 6-0 in their opener, while Panama are third and to aspire to one of the World Cup spots they must beat the North Americans.

Priestman said it won’t be difficult for his team to counter Panamanian counterattacks or neutralize their rivals on dead balls as it’s something he has been working on in his training.

“When you play against these teams and you attack a lot, you can be caught off guard defensively. We talk no matter who we play against, you have to be balanced and at the same time play with freedom and fluidity. I’m confident we can do what’s needed.” “, he commented.

The strategist denied that Canada would underestimate Panama, which has never attended a World Cup or Olympics and is ranked 57th in the FIFA rankings.

In the Concacaf W championship, Canada aspires to obtain the ticket to play the eighth World Cup in its history and the fifth Olympic tournament.

At the World Championships, his best place was a fourth place in the United States in 2003 and at the Olympics, it was the gold medal in Tokyo.