Ante Budimir scored the only goal of the match to give Croatia a 1-0 victory over Panama in Group L of World Cup 2026 qualifying, on a day when Luka Modric became the fourth male player to reach 200 senior international appearances.
Modric Reaches 200 Caps
The 40-year-old Modric joined Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Kuwait's Bader al-Mutawa as the only men with 200 senior caps. After the match, his teammates lifted him in the air, and 25 Croatian players wore T-shirts reading “Infinite Legacy” with his image and the number 200. Modric himself quickly removed the shirt, appearing uncomfortable with the attention. “He’s very humble,” said Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic. “He’s not for major celebrations. But I’m very glad that we marked this occasion today and that we had a victory.”
Match Overview
Budimir’s 54th-minute goal, a close-range finish from Josip Stanisic’s cross, decided a tight contest. Croatia had lost their opener 4-2 to England, while Panama had lost 1-0 to Ghana. The victory moved Croatia to three points, a point behind group leaders England and Ghana. Panama, eliminated after two losses, has yet to score in the tournament.
First-Half Struggles
Panama’s defensive 5-4-1 formation frustrated Croatia in the first half. The home side generated only three shots with a combined expected goals (xG) of 0.11. Panama’s best chance came in the 23rd minute when José Luis Rodríguez’s header was deflected off the crossbar by goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. “They played with that hunger, with that dedication, with that spirit,” Panama manager Thomas Christiansen said. “I’m super proud of them.”
Second-Half Breakthrough
After the break, Croatia increased the tempo. In the 54th minute, substitute Budimir met Stanisic’s cross at the far post to score. Panama pushed forward, leaving gaps, but Livakovic made several saves to preserve the lead. Modric was substituted in the 81st minute to a standing ovation. “We were pretty aware of our quality and the situation that we were in,” said Croatia’s Marco Pasalic. “What we didn’t do in the first half, we did in the second half. We’ve been relieved of the burden and now we can move on.”
Group Implications
Croatia faces England next on Saturday, while Panama is eliminated after two defeats. Dalic’s side, which reached the 2018 World Cup final and finished third in 2022, relies on an aging core. Modric, who has played for Croatia for over two decades, may add to his record caps tally.
