Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:01am on 24 Jun 2026,Wednesday Sports
Croatia secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Panama in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match in Toronto, keeping their knockout-stage hopes alive while eliminating Panama from the tournament. Substitute Ante Budimir scored the decisive goal in the 54th minute, converting a cross from Josip Stanišić after a clever attacking move. Panama created several chances and pushed hard for an equaliser, but Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livaković produced key saves to preserve the lead. The match also marked a historic milestone for captain Luka Modrić, who made his 200th appearance for Croatia. The win moves Croatia back into contention ahead of a decisive final group-stage fixture. (PC: Reuters)
