Brazil vs Panama Odds, Pick | Women’s World Cup Preview

Brazil vs Panama Odds

Monday, July 24

7 a.m. ET

FS1

Brazil enter the World Cup wanting to send Marta, their all-time leading goalscorer and one of the greatest players in women's soccer history, off on a high note.

Panama, meanwhile, enter as a young and inexperienced team playing in their first-ever World Cup with a couple of offensive weapons.

Read on for a breakdown of Brazil vs. Panama, as well as my pick to win this one.

Brazil Focused and Capable

The eighth-ranked team in the world, Brazil are among the favorites to win this year’s World Cup. They will be making their ninth World Cup appearance, with the best finish coming as runners-up in 2007. The last two editions of the World Cup have seen Brazil reach the round of 16 before falling out of the tournament. 

This year, Brazil enter the tournament with higher hopes. After all, this will be Marta’s final World Cup. And what better way to send out one of your best players in team and world history and all-time leading goalscorer than with a title? 

Brazil certainly have the supporting cast to do that. Debinha and Bia Zaneratto help to anchor the team’s attack. Adriana and Kerolin stack the midfield, while Rafaelle and Bruninha keep things contained on defense. Not to mention, this team has history on its side in the opener. The team has won all eight previous World Cup opening matches. 

At the SheBelieves Cup in February, they presented a mixed bag, defeating fellow favorite Japan before losing to Canada and the USWNT in close games. But, in those games, Brazil managed to look good offensively, with the team nearly splitting possession with the United States. 

This is a team that is dangerous and has a clear-cut mission, two things that can spell trouble for opposing teams at the World Cup.

Panama Face Uphill Battle

Panama have a long road ahead of themselves if they want to advance beyond the group stage in their first-ever World Cup. Recent results have featured a 7-0 loss to Spain in June and a 5-0 loss to Japan in July. It’s a younger squad, with just four players topping 30 years or older. 

Top scorer Marta Cox is arguably this team’s future. At just 25-years-old, she has nine goals through 19 appearances. She’s joined in the team’s youth movement by Lineth Cedeño, who has eight goals in 14 international appearances. What’s interesting is that head coach Ignacio Quintana has chosen to bring just three forwards to the World Cup, bolstering the team’s midfield and its defense instead.

Having Brazil be your first-ever World Cup opponent is a tough test, especially given that these two teams have never played one another before. However, it doesn’t get any easier from here, with Jamaica and France on deck in Group F.

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Brazil vs Panama Pick

While a blowout by Brazil might have been my prediction earlier on in this tournament, the first slate of group stage games have proven that this isn’t a similar World Cup to previous ones. Scores have been tight, and while the chosen teams have prevailed, they haven’t come without question marks. 

Brazil will win this one, simply based on the fact that the Selecao will overwhelm and break down Panama defensively. And given that Panama have a limited number of scorers, goals could be hard to come by for the opposing side. Nonetheless, it’s still an opportunity for Panama to gain some experience and learn more about who they are.

Panama will likely give them opportunities, and Brazil need to take them and find a groove for their next two games against Jamaica and France. Jamaica have proved they have come to play, and France have some vulnerabilities that Brazil would do well to capitalize on. I pick Brazil to win this one 3-0 – with a Marta goal for some added flair.

The Pick: Brazil 3 – Panama 0 (Brazil win to nil & over 2.5, +100 via FanDuel)