Ismael Díaz laughs off Zlatan jab ahead of Ghana opener

Ismael Díaz has brushed off Zlatan Ibrahimović's dig at Panama, after the Swedish icon labeled Los Canaleros "punching bags" in World Cup Group L. Speaking to reporters, Díaz laughed off the remark: "I burst out laughing because, at the end of the day, it's Zlatan being Zlatan. He's a player I admire, a phenomenal player. What he showed speaks for itself." The León striker insisted Panama will rise to the occasion when they open their 2026 campaign against Ghana on June 17 in Toronto. "We know we're going to do very well, we're going to compete against any team, we're going to give everything we've got," Díaz said (1).