Interesting is the correlation between Panamanian history and this year's Gold Cup. Panama played with tremendous emotion against Colombia and won the 2 games between them. Is there a reason for that? Well, Panama and Colombia are neighbors. Colombia used to rule Panama before Panama became independent. Do things like this affect soccer games? I think they do. Here is a reference, but you have to scroll down because at first it looks blank: http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cach...LimitsinSeas/IBS062.pdf+Colombia+Panama&hl=en Now Panama is facing the US right after avenging Colombia. Needless to say there is history between Panama and the US. This should be a very emotional game.
Thing to keep in mind is that the " rebellion" by Panama was engineered and orchestrated by the US in order to have control over the future canal, though we can see that the Panamanians were hardly comfortable with Colombian rule. The American presence during the canal period is why Panama adopted baseball. Don't know much about their soccer history, but it apparently is an important and popular sport there. By the way, i will be there at the game supporting the USA and wearing my corny USA stuff.
LEt's see. Chants to use : "Colombia del Norte. You're just Colombia del Norte." "The Suez is better." "You're nothing but a shortcut." etc... (nothing as fun as If you're in the Hexagonal clap your hands" to the Hondos)
Interestingly enough, the US was going to build a canal through Nicaragua. A New York lawyer William Cromwell and a Frenchman Phillipe Varilla who worked on the canal when the French were trying to build it were the main reasons why the US government chose Panama. Through their actions, the US Government was distrusted by our South American neighbors for generations. On a related note, the US did rid the Isthmus of yellow fever and this is considered one of the great medical feats of the 20th century
To the Panamanians, what happened at the turn of the last century is ancient history. But they really celebrate getting the canal back from the US. Ask a Panamanian who the greatest US president was and he'll invariably say Jimmy Carter. The thing with the Noriega reign and the US invasion has been conveniently forgotten and they're not comfortable talking about it. But politics aside, the Panamanian soccer team is a huge shock. Baseball is by far their number one sport and their league doesn't amount to much. I'm totally amazed at how well they're playing. I'm pulling for the US but it wouldn't bother me too much if Panama pulled an upset. I was very impressed by the place when I visited and can't wait to get back.
It will bother me if we lose. I shelled out 75 bucks for two tickets. Carter's return of the canal is looked down upon by many Americans, but it was one of his big achievements, along with camp david.