--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-06-17T17:46:40.560Z last_updated: 2026-06-17T11:00:00+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/norwich-city/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZWRwMjQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvMjYyMDE4NDkubm9yd2ljaC1jaXR5LWpvc2UtY29yZG9iYS1wcmVwYXJlcy1wYW5hbWEtd29ybGQtY3VwLWJpZC8_cmVmPXJzcw --- # Cordoba ready to rumble after ‘pampering’ - **Source:** - **Published:** 17 Jun - **Club:** Norwich City - **Original URL:** https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/26201849.norwich-city-jose-cordoba-prepares-panama-world-cup-bid/?ref=rss Norwich City centre back Jose Cordoba is fit and firing for Panama’s World Cup opener against Ghana. Cordoba completes the Canaries quintet at the global showpiece when he is expected to start for his country in the early hours of Thursday morning (UK time) in Toronto. The 25-year-old was a notable absentee from Panama's final pre-World Cup warm up against Bosnia, with his national boss, Thomas Christiansen, revealing afterwards the City centre back had felt muscle ‘discomfort’. But Cordoba has trained fully over recent days and is in the mix for the Group L kick-off, in a pool that also features England and Croatia. Cordoba picked up a hamstring injury earlier last season on international duty, but later emerged as a key figure in Philippe Clement’s Carrow Road revival. Christiansen delivered a clean bill of health when questioned on the fitness of Cordoba and the absentees from that recent Bosnia friendly. “With so much pressure, so many games there are always players hurting, players we want to take care of a little or pamper in the sense that the most important for us as a team and me as a coach is to have them at 100pc for Ghana,” said the former Leeds boss. “We have allocated the right playing minutes, the right rest periods in training, the intensity of each training session is measured, it’s calculated, and we know how far we can push the player to ensure he is in the best possible condition. As a result we have everyone available, everyone is fine, everyone is ready to give 100pc if I need it.” Cordoba and co will be backed an estimated 20,000 Panamanians, who have headed to Canada to witness what they hope is an historic first World Cup win, after losing all three group games in their first finals appearance four years ago. “Whether they are in the stadium or watching from home, a huge thank you,” said Christiansen. “When we see the stadium at least half full of Panamanians it fills us with pride and we are going to feel that support very closely. There is no more important event for a footballer or a coach than being at a World Cup. “Since we are here, and I have said this many times, it is not just about participating, it is not just about competing, it is the opportunity to make history. I would like a win in this game for the joy it would bring to an entire country. "I imagine that when we hear the anthem and see all the Panamanians we’re going to get even more excited. I will watch the players sing the anthem and you will see the desire they have to play a great game. "There has been a lot of talk about this being the World Cup with the most teams but, maybe with one exception so far (Curacao losing 7-1 to Germany), there are no easy matches. “There may be a significant difference in terms of footballing ability and quality, but with effort and tactical discipline you have seen teams able to compete and that is what makes football beautiful, that no team should be underestimated.”