Panama may have lost 1-0 to Croatia at Toronto Stadium on Tuesday, but their heart and effort should have won over fans, according to Dan Bilicki of the Toronto Sun.
Match Overview
Croatia, ranked 15th in the world by FIFA, faced Panama, ranked 40th. Croatia had reached the World Cup final in 2018 and finished third in 2022, while Panama had yet to record a point in their second World Cup appearance. Croatia's starting XI featured former Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric, making his 200th national team appearance, while Panama has seldom produced soccer stars. The crowd at Toronto Stadium heavily favored Croatia, with thousands of Croatian supporters parading in red-and-white checkerboard patterns.
Game Highlights
Panama defended well in the first half, putting every man behind the ball and forcing Croatia to struggle to unlock their defense. Panama created dangerous chances on counter-attacks, with Jose Luis Rodriguez having the best chance of the half—a header pushed onto the crossbar by goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. Through the first half, Panama looked more dangerous despite Croatia's possession dominance.
After the break, Croatian manager Zlatko Dalic substituted Ante Budimir and Andrej Kramaric. Josip Stanisic swung a cross into the box, which Budimir deflected into the net for the only goal. Modric later sprang Marco Pasalic on a breakaway, but the winger couldn't beat the goalkeeper. Panama pressured but couldn't beat Livakovic, who made several big saves.
Impact on Panama's World Cup Campaign
With the loss, Panama was eliminated from contention for the knockout phase. They had earlier lost 1-0 to Ghana in injury time, with Caleb Yirenkyi scoring in the 96th minute. A draw between England and Ghana put both teams at four points, while Croatia sits third in the group.
Panama had set up camp north of Toronto in Alliston at Nottawasaga Resort, making Canada their home away from home during the World Cup. Despite the odds, their fight and effort were applauded by fans. As Bilicki noted, "David didn't beat Goliath this time, but it was a result to be remembered."
