Panama’s World Cup journey has come to an abrupt end following a hard-fought 1-0 defeat to Croatia, who kept their qualification hopes alive with a disciplined performance.
The decisive moment came in the 54th minute when Ante Budimir calmly finished off a well-delivered cross from Josip Stanisic, sending Croatian fans into celebration and sealing all three points for the European side.
Despite the loss, Panama showed resilience and flashes of promise, particularly in the first half.
Jose Luis Rodriguez came close to opening the scoring in the 23rd minute, but his powerful header was brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
Croatia, determined to bounce back from their 4-2 opening defeat to England, displayed greater control in the second half.
Luka Modric, making his landmark 200th international appearance, orchestrated play with composure, although he was unable to find the back of the net.
Panama’s head coach, Thomas Christiansen, praised his team’s effort despite their elimination, stating that the squad has made significant progress on the global stage.
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“You cannot win a match if you don’t score,” Christiansen admitted, while expressing pride in his players’ fighting spirit against a more experienced Croatian side.
Croatia nearly doubled their lead moments after the goal, but Marco Pasalic failed to convert a clear opportunity after being set up by Modric, as Panama’s defense held firm to keep the scoreline narrow.
The Central American side continued to push for an equalizer but were unable to break their goal drought, ultimately confirming their exit from the tournament.
Panama will now play their final group match against England, while Croatia face a crucial clash against Ghana as they battle for a place in the knockout stage.
Meanwhile, Modric’s milestone appearance was celebrated by teammates and fans alike, with head coach Zlatko Dalic describing the veteran midfielder as a “born leader” whose humility defines his greatness.
Croatia now move forward with renewed confidence, while Panama exit the tournament with valuable experience and a foundation to build on for future competitions.
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