Ante Budimir celebrates after scoring against Panama. (Photo by Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty Images)
(Anadolu via Getty Images)
Ante Budimir‘s second-half goal kept Croatia‘s hopes of a third straight World Cup semifinal appearance alive as the 2022 third-place finishers beat Panama 1-0 in Toronto on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old became Croatia’s oldest World Cup goal scorer ever when he knocked home Josip Stanisic‘s cross in the 54th minute after coming on at halftime as a substitute.
Knowing it would be eliminated from the World Cup with a loss after dropping its opener against Ghana, Panama immediately pushed forward for a tying goal. However, one never came, and now Panama knows its final game at the World Cup will be on Saturday against England.
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Panama’s best chance at a tie came less than 15 minutes after Budimir’s goal. Goalkeeper Dominik Livaković made back-to-back saves on Amir Murillo shots and then parried over another shot on the ensuing corner.
Croatia was overrun in the second half of its 4-2 loss to England last week but was the controlling team in midfield for much of the game on Tuesday. Panama was content to immediately push forward on the counter as soon as it regained possession from Croatia until Budimir’s goal and produced some dangerous opportunities in the first half. However, few of those turned into actual chances.
Panama was dangerous again immediately after Budimir’s goal as it committed players forward. But the second-half hydration break happened right after Livakovic’s flurry of saves, and Panama never replicated that momentum the rest of the game.
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After finishing second at the 2018 World Cup and third four years ago, Croatia now has a very clear path to second place in Group L with a win over Ghana.
After tying with England earlier Tuesday, Ghana and England each have four points while Croatia has three. Assuming an England win over Panama, Croatia can finish second with a win and will have a great shot at a third-place spot in the Round of 32 with a draw.
