Croatia kept its World Cup survival hopes alive in Toronto by securing a narrow 1-0 victory over Panama, officially eliminating the Central American side from the tournament due to head-to-head tiebreaker rules.
The match marked the 200th international cap for Croatian midfielder Luka Modric, whose side bounced back to earn three crucial points in Group L, leaving them in contention for a spot in the round of 32 before facing Ghana.
>>> Washington Wizards Select AJ Dybantsa First in 2026 NBA Draft
Substitute Ante Budimir scored the decisive goal in the 54th minute following an assist from Josip Stanisic, while Panama failed to equalize despite hitting the crossbar later in the second half.
Bellingham Stays Positive After Ghana Draw
Meanwhile, in other tournament developments, England midfielder Jude Bellingham downplayed his team's recent scoreless draw against Ghana, urging his teammates to maintain an optimistic outlook.
"No worries, no stress, no drama.
That was the message I just gave in the dressing room: stay positive and keep the good atmosphere we have now.
It is not the end of the world.
We have 4 points, we are in a good position to qualify for the next round," said Bellingham.
The Real Madrid player noted that the team struggled against defensive setups, labeling the performance as a common difficulty teams face early in tournaments.
"It is a bit of a 'second game syndrome'.
We start with a good performance and a great victory, but the second game turns out frustrating because of the way the opponent defends and organizes themselves," he added.
