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Croatia beats Panama 1-0 to stay alive in World Cup group
Croatia’s national team secured a 1‑0 victory over Panama in the second round of Group L at the 2026 World Cup in Toronto. Ante Budimir struck the only goal in the 54th minute after a pass from Josip Stanišić, giving the side three points and keeping them in contention for the knockout stage following a 4‑2 loss to England. Coach Zlatko Dalić made two half‑time substitutions, bringing on Budimir and Andrej Kramarić, which restored attacking sharpness. Goalkeeper Dominik Livaković made several key saves in the first half, and Luka Modrić celebrated his 200th cap for Croatia despite a sluggish start. Analysts highlighted Panama’s strong early pressure and noted that the match exposed defensive lapses, but the win was deemed essential for Croatia’s chances against upcoming opponent Ghana.