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Group D wraps up in Copa America Centenario today. First up, Chile and Panama will tussle for a place in the knockout rounds. Barring an unlikely series of events - one of these teams winning by a lot, and Bolivia beating Argentina in the match to follow - this is a playoff for the runner-up spot in the group, and a quarterfinal against Mexico in Santa Clara on June 18.
Panama has the slightly harder task: Los Canaleros must win to progress. The draw will be sufficient to see Chile through. Both teams have beaten Bolivia and lost to Argentina so far in the tournament, though the 5-0 loss Panama suffered to La Albiceleste will be a little harder to shake off than Chile's 2-1 defeat by the same opponent.
This tournament is something of a swansong for some of Panama's senior players. If Los Canaleros qualify for Russia 2018, it is difficult to imagine all of the current squad making the final cut, not just for reasons of form or fitness. Sometime between now and the next World Cup, whether Panama has qualified for it or not, on imagines at least a couple of this 23's oldest players - Felipe Baloy (35 years old), Jaime Penedo (34), Luis Henriquez (34), Blas Perez (35), Luis Tejeda (34) - will retire or be eased out of their national team's plans.
Perhaps next year's Gold Cup will provide another opportunity for them to represent Los Canaleros, but this game might be the last chance to see some of Panama's (and CONCACAF's) best-known internationals do what they do best for their country.