Thomas Christiansen calls for higher standards as Panama clash with South Africa in a pre-World Cup friendly

Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen has called for his side to raise their level after a testing encounter with South Africa, as both teams continue their build-up to the World Cup.

Speaking in Durban, Christiansen said the match unfolded much as he anticipated, with the hosts showcasing their trademark athleticism and pace in attack. He acknowledged the challenge posed by South Africa’s quick transitions and intelligent movement, noting that his team struggled at times to close down the spaces they had specifically targeted to contain.

“I saw what I expected from this team, a physical team, fast in attack, with good transitions and good runs,” he told journalists, reflecting on the contest.

While satisfied with the competitive nature of the friendly, Christiansen was quick to stress the difference in intensity between warm-up fixtures and the demands of a World Cup environment. For him, the key takeaway is the need for both sides to elevate their performances in order to compete at the highest level on the global stage.

“They found us in the spaces that we wanted to close. But a friendly game or a qualifying game is not the same as a World Cup game,” he explained. “So, I think we both need to upgrade our level a little bit.”

Attention now shifts to defensive organisation and squad management, with Christiansen emphasising that tightening up at the back will be crucial in the coming weeks. He pointed to lapses in concentration and structure that need to be addressed before Panama arrive in Cape Town for the next phase of their preparations.

“I hope, especially in the defence, we are going to fix the mistakes that we made in this game,” he said, outlining his focus on improvement.

The Danish tactician also hinted at rotation, revealing that the fixtures against South Africa were designed in part to assess the depth of his squad. With player fitness and travel fatigue also a concern, he stressed the importance of selecting a balanced team that is both competitive and physically ready.

“We will probably see some players in action because that was the main goal in these two games against South Africa,” Christiansen added.

“And also, because of the jet lag and the travel we had, we need to try to make the best team, or the team that is in the best condition, thinking of not getting injured.”

With the World Cup looming, Panama’s focus now turns to refining their structure, managing player workload, and translating lessons from their South African test into a more polished and resilient performance on football’s biggest stage.