Croatia and Panama met for the second match of Group L at the World Cup, this time at BMO Field in Toronto. England topped Croatia 4-2 in the opening match in Dallas, while Panama lost to Ghana 1-0.
Coach Zlatko Dalić explained the reasoning behind his starting eleven, highlighting the return to four in the back and a handful of changes to the lineup.
He revealed that Marin Pongračić was handed the nod ahead of Duje Ćaleta-Car, given that the latter saw no action in the warm-up friendlies before the World Cup, while Mateo Kovačić was brought into midfield to provide greater control of possession.
Dalić also outlined the game plan, explaining that Croatia will look to create overloads out wide. As a solution to breaking down a compact opposition defense, he opted for Marco Pašalić on the right and Ivan Perišić on the left, with the expectation that most of the team’s attacking threat would come through the flanks.
Ahead of the match, Dalić thanked the fans for their support and expressed hope that the team would not let them down.
Photo by Slobodan Kadić
He also addressed the situation in the group, noting that the result of the earlier fixture between England and Ghana (0-0) has no bearing on Croatia’s mindset. The most important thing is for the Vatreni to focus solely on themselves and their own performance.
This match also held significant importance for Luka Modrić – it was his 200th cap for the Croatia national team.
Lineups
Panama: Mosquera – Blackman, Ramos, Cordoba – Murillo, Harvey, Martinez, Andrade – Barcenas, Fajardo, Rodriguez
Croatia: Livaković – Stanišić, Šutalo, Pongračić, Gvardiol – Modrić, Kovačić – Marco Pašalić, Baturina, Perišić – Musa
Match report
The match kicked off at 7 pm local time, and Croatia had their first chance just a minute later. Marco Pašalić crossed from the right to find Modrić’s head, but the captain’s effort drifted over the bar.
Panama responded a few minutes later, winning a free kick around 40 meters from Croatia’s goal, which the Croatian defense dealt with comfortably.
In the 5th minute, Modrić tried to find Perišić at the top of the box, but the Panama keeper got there first. Moments later, a foul from Kovačić handed Panama another free kick, this time from around 30 meters out, with Šutalo on hand to clear any danger.
Panama continued to threaten and by the 16th minute had racked up more final-third entries than Croatia, who had yet to register one. By the 18th minute, Croatia were starting to push higher and apply pressure on the Panama defense, but couldn’t find a way to get the ball over their heads and into the box — everything was cleared.
In the 22nd minute, Livaković produced a scare-saving stop on a dangerous attempt from José Luis Rodríguez, though the referee ruled the ball had gone out of play before the shot.
Croatia looked noticeably sharper after the hydration break, spending the next ten minutes camped in Panama’s third of the pitch, though they still couldn’t find the breakthrough.
In the 29th minute, Stanišić crossed from the right wing looking for Perišić on the far side, but the ball was just too high for him to reach. Baturina was active and available for the ball, with Panama struggling to find an answer for him. He won another free kick for Croatia at the end of the byline. Modrić stepped up to take it in the 30th minute, but none of his teammates were where the ball ended up.
By the 32nd minute, it was clear Croatia were sticking to the game plan Dalić had outlined before the match — relying on crosses from the flanks to break down Panama’s compact midfield. Croatia had put in 10 crosses by this point, only two of which found their target, with little real danger created. The first shot on goal was still nowhere to be seen.
In the 35th minute, Šutalo looked for the run of Perišić with a long ball into the box, but Cordoba won the aerial duel. A minute later, Baturina was the victim of a harsh foul from Cordoba from behind, with only a free kick to show for it.
Croatia’s struggles continued into the late stages of the half. In the 37th minute, Modrić needlessly gave the ball away in Panama’s half, leading to a half-chance on the counter that fizzled out with a poor cross from Martinez on the right. Panama caused further problems in the 38th minute, as Murillo crossed from the right and found Rodríguez inexplicably unmarked at the back post. A minute later, Murillo got the better of Gvardiol again and drove into the box, but got tangled up before he could get a shot away.
By the 41st minute, it was simply not Croatia’s night. It was a flat performance from Dalić’s side in a match they desperately needed to win. The midfield troubles continued in the 42nd minute, with both Modrić and Kovačić giving the ball away cheaply, though Panama’s resulting crosses caused no real trouble for the defense.
Croatia finally found their first shot on target in the first minute of stoppage time, as Baturina shook off his marker and fired from around 18 meters, only for his low effort to be saved by the Panama goalkeeper — also Croatia’s first corner of the match. Moments later, danger flared again at the other end, but Gvardiol read the situation well and dispossessed Murillo before any damage could be done.
With three minutes of stoppage time signalled, Marco Pašalić took a corner from close range in the second minute of added time, but the Panama defence managed to block it away as the half drew to a close. It’s important to mention that Livaković motioned to the fans at the end of the first half to cheer louder. The Croatia fan base at the last two games was unusually quiet.
To start the second half, Dalić made his first changes, withdrawing Musa for Budimir and Gvardiol for Kramarić, with Perišić shifting across to left back.
Croatia came out with renewed energy, looking far more active in Panama’s final third. The moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived in the 54th minute, when Stanišić and Pašalić combined brilliantly down the right. The Bayern defender produced a superb ball into the penalty spot, where Budimir was on hand to tap home and put Croatia 1-0 up.
Photo by Slobodan Kadić
It was almost 2-0 moments later, as Modrić found Pašalić in a one-on-one with the Panama goalkeeper — but his attempt to round Mosquera and slot into an empty net didn’t come off, and he ended up firing high over the bar instead.
Livaković was called upon to be the hero once again in the 68th minute, producing four consecutive saves as Panama pushed for an equalizer, keeping Croatia’s lead intact.
Dalić made two further changes in the 72nd minute, bringing on Petar Sučić for Kovačić and Luka Sučić for Marco Pašalić. Then in the 81st minute, with Modrić making way for Mario Pašalić, the captain handed his armband to Perišić on the way off.
Luka Sučić stepped up for a free kick in the 82nd minute but shot straight at the wall, with the resulting deflection forcing Croatia into a corner. A minute later, Budimir was caught off guard when the ball cannoned off his leg following the corner.
Five minutes of stoppage time were added, and Croatia held on. The game finished 1-0.
Photo by Slobodan Kadić
Croatia plays Ghana next on Saturday in Philadelphia. It will be their last match in Group L.
