Croatia defeated Panama 1-0 in a crucial World Cup group stage match on Tuesday, earning their first three points of the tournament. The decisive goal came from Ante Budimir, who scored shortly after entering the game as a substitute. This victory keeps Croatia’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stages alive, while simultaneously eliminating Panama from contention. Panama struggled to capitalize on opportunities throughout the match, failing to find an equalizer despite determined efforts. The result places Croatia in a competitive position within Group L, needing a positive result in their final match to guarantee progression. The loss marks a disappointing end to Panama’s World Cup campaign, their first appearance at the tournament.