Croatia netted a second-half goal from substitute Ante Budimir to beat Panama 1-0 for their first points of the World Cup in a high-stakes Group L clash on Tuesday that eliminated the Central American side.
On a night when Croatia captain Luka Modric became the second European to earn a 200th cap, the Balkan side broke the deadlock when Budimir, alone at the back post, converted a deep cross in the 54th minute.
Croatia, who struggled to assert their dominance in the first half, nearly doubled their lead moments later when Marco Pasalic broke through one-on-one, but he could not beat the Panama goalkeeper and then skied the rebound.
Both sides were desperate for points after a 0-0 draw earlier on Tuesday between England and Ghana meant the losers would have no hope of reaching the knockout round.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)
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