Croatia rekindled their 2026 World Cup ambitions with a determined 1-0 victory over Panama at the Toronto Stadium. The result, which came on a night celebrating a remarkable achievement for Luka Modric, ensured Zlatko Dalic’s men remain in contention for a spot in the knockout stages while confirming Panama’s early exit from the tournament.
Modric reaches a historic milestone
In a match defined by tactical discipline and nerves, all eyes were on Croatia’s evergreen captain Luka Modric. The midfield maestro became only the fourth male footballer in history to reach 200 senior international appearances, joining an exclusive group that includes Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa.
Manager Zlatko Dalic was full of admiration for the 40-year-old after the final whistle, saying: “He continues to influence matches, and to represent your country 200 times is an incredible achievement. We are fortunate to have him. Luka is humble, and that’s why he doesn’t seek big celebrations, but I’m happy we could honour this moment in front of our fans.” To mark the occasion, his teammates donned black shirts bearing the words “Infinite Legacy” and the number 200 during post-match celebrations.
Budimir provides the breakthrough
After a first half in which Panama’s disciplined 5-4-1 structure frustrated Croatia’s attack, Dalic made a decisive change at half-time by introducing Ante Budimir to add more physical presence in the box. The substitution proved crucial in the 54th minute, when Marco Pasalic cleverly backheeled the ball to Josip Stanisic, whose low cross found Budimir at the far post. The Osasuna all-time leading scorer calmly slotted home to give Croatia the lead.
The goal ignited the Croatian supporters in Toronto, turning the stadium into a sea of red and white. Pasalic nearly doubled the advantage soon after when he went one-on-one with Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera, only to see his effort saved before sending the rebound over the bar. Despite the narrow scoreline, Dalic’s tactical adjustment at the interval proved decisive, helping Croatia recover from their opening defeat to England and keep their qualification hopes alive.
Panama’s World Cup run ends
For Panama, the defeat signals the end of their 2026 World Cup journey. Thomas Christiansen’s side showed flashes of promise, particularly in the first half when Jose Luis Rodriguez’s header was tipped onto the underside of the crossbar by Dominik Livakovic. However, their inability to convert chances proved costly, leaving them without a point after two group matches ahead of their final clash against England.
Christiansen expressed pride in his players despite the elimination: “They played with hunger, dedication, and spirit — exactly what we asked for. I’m extremely proud of them. Croatia had two shots on target and scored one.” The Canaleros battled until the final whistle, winning seven corners and forcing Livakovic into several sharp saves in the second half, but lacked the finishing touch to change the result.
Group L set for a tense finale
The outcome leaves Group L finely poised heading into the final round of fixtures. Following England’s 0-0 draw with Ghana earlier in the day, both England and Ghana sit on four points, with Croatia close behind on three. The qualification scenario is straightforward: a Croatian victory over Ghana in Philadelphia will secure their passage to the last 32, while England need only avoid defeat against the already-eliminated Panama to advance.
Reflecting on the pressure, Pasalic said: “We knew our quality and understood the situation we were in. What we failed to do in the first half, we corrected in the second. We’ve lifted that weight off our shoulders and can now move forward.” With momentum on their side and Modric continuing to defy age, the 2018 runners-up appear ready to fight for a place in the knockout stages once again.
