90+5' FULL TIME

90' We are entering the final stretch of the match. Croatia seems to be heading toward a victory that gives them some breathing room in the standings, but it leaves behind a trail of uncertainty: their level of play has been far from expected, and they will need to significantly improve their performance for future fixtures. On the other side, unless something changes, Panama is on its way to bowing out of the tournament despite putting up a brave fight.

85' A cross from Martin Baturina proved very difficult for Josip Stanisic to reach. The ball sailed past Ante Budimir, who was battling the two center-backs inside the area, and reached the Bayern Munich full-back on the byline, but he couldn't keep it in play, resulting in a goal kick. Aside from the Osasuna striker's goal and the subsequent chance for Marko Pasalic, Orlando Mosquera has remained largely untested.

72' Offensive move for Panama! The coach decides to throw caution to the wind in search of a comeback. Jiovany Ramos departs from the defense, and attacker Cecilio Waterman enters the pitch. All signs point to the "Canaleros" modifying their formation to go fully on the attack for these final minutes.

54' GOAL FOR CROATIA!!! ANTE BUDIMIR SCORES! The Osasuna striker makes no mistake! He arrived and immediately made his mark: his first touch of the ball in the box resulted in a goal. The play was cooked up on the right flank with a give-and-go between Pasalic and Stanisic; the full-back broke through to the byline and delivered a precise cross at mid-height that Budimir simply had to tap into the net. Croatia strikes first! Panama 0-1 Croatia.

HALF-TIME

45' We enter the three minutes of stoppage time for this first half. Croatia looks stuck, unable to decipher the Panamanian tactical setup. Zlatko Dalic's side desperately needs a shift in mindset in the dressing room if they are to turn things around, as, given the current state of play, securing the three points feels like a tall order. Panama heads into the break having undoubtedly left a much stronger impression.

38' Panama insists and strikes again! The "Canaleros" intercepted a key ball from Luka Modric, though Croatia managed to recover in time. Shortly after, Panama threaded a deep pass to the back post; after a second cross into the box failed to find a finisher, the move fizzled out. The Panamanian side remains fearless and continues to be the team posing the greatest attacking threat on the pitch.

32' Croatia continues to insist down the flanks. Marko Pasalic once again sends a cross into the box, but the Panamanian defense stands firm and clears it without trouble. Zlatko Dalic’s men are relying too heavily on long balls; they cannot find a way through the middle, and for now, their wide attempts are failing to destabilize Panama’s defensive structure.

25´COOL BREAK

23' INCREDIBLE LIVAKOVIC!! Panama came so close to the opener! Michael Murillo appeared on the flank, whipped a precise cross into the heart of the area, and José Rodríguez connected with a lethal header that looked like the 1-0, but the Croatian goalkeeper flew to deflect the ball onto the crossbar. An intervention of another level! Although there were doubts about whether the ball had gone out of play before Murillo delivered the cross, the play will go down as one of the saves of the tournament.

15' The giant awakens! After Panama's initial push, Croatia has managed to flip the script of the match. Zlatko Dalic's team is starting to impose their hierarchy, taking control of possession and pushing the "Canaleros" back. Now, the challenge for the Europeans is to transform that territorial dominance into real danger to open the scoring.

10' The Croatian defense thwarts the set-piece attempt from Yoel Bárcenas, who tried a dangerous cross into the box following a foul by Mateo Kovacic. It is not turning into a script of Croatian dominance; rather, it is Panama who is playing and proposing more with the ball.

4' Handball shout for Panama! Michael Murillo unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box that struck a defender, sparking immediate protests from the Canaleros players. Although referee Pierre Atcho briefly paused the match to review the incident, he quickly indicated there was no punishable offense.

KICK-OFF

LINE UP CROATIA

LINE UP PANAMA

Croatia, for its part, comes into this match following a tough defeat against England in their World Cup opener. Zlatko Dalić’s side is not only looking to bounce back on the pitch, but also to avoid a premature elimination that would be historically negative for a generation accustomed to competing in the final stages.

The main focus of the match will be on Luka Modrić, who will reach 200 international caps for the Croatian national team. At 40 years old, the captain remains the hub of the team, accompanied by Mateo Kovačić and supported by young talents like Martin Baturina. Their goal will be to regain control of the midfield and prevent Panama from imposing an uncomfortable, physical style of play.

Defensively, Croatia will attempt to correct the weaknesses shown in their debut, especially in aerial play—an area that Panama will look to exploit through set pieces and second balls.

Panama arrives wounded following a heartbreaking defeat against Ghana, a result that left a bitter taste given the competitive effort displayed. Thomas Christiansen’s side also faces a significant blow: Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla, their primary playmaker, has been ruled out due to a muscle injury. His absence forces a tactical reshuffle that reduces midfield control and pushes the team toward a more direct approach, relying on quick transitions and exploiting the wings with players like Michael Murillo and Édgar Bárcenas.

In attack, Cecilio Waterman will serve as the focal point, bearing the responsibility of turning the few opportunities they are expected to have against a physically dominant European defense into goals.

BMO Field in Toronto will be the setting for a high-tension clash this Tuesday, June 23, 2026, as Panama and Croatia face off in the second matchday of Group L at the World Cup. The match is considered "do-or-die" for both teams following their respective setbacks in the tournament opener.

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