Panama proud to avoid Belgium embarrassment

SOCHI, Russia - There was a sense of relief for Panama when the final whistle blew at Fisht Stadium in Sochi on Monday.

The Central American country had just lost 3-0 to Belgium in its first-ever World Cup match, but it felt almost like victory.

"Fortunately, what everybody thought would happen didn't - which was for us to lose by six or seven goals," Panama coach Hernan Gomez said. "Panama played with dignity. It wasn't bad."