Budimir comes off the bench to fire Croatia past Panama

Croatia needed a response in Toronto, and it came from a player who began the night on the bench. Ante Budimir turned in Josip Stanisic’s cross early in the second half to settle a tense contest 1-0 against Panama, a win that finally gets the 2018 runners-up moving in Group L and sends Panama out of the tournament.

For an hour it looked like Croatia might pay for a flat, fussy display. Zlatko Dalic’s side controlled the ball through midfield but found little clarity in the final third, and Panama, knowing defeat would end their World Cup, kept breaking forward whenever they won possession back. The introduction of Budimir at half-time changed the shape of the night.

Budimir makes the most of his moment

The goal carried a neat symmetry for a striker who has spent most of his Croatia career waiting his turn. Stanisic worked space on the right and clipped a cross to the back post, where Budimir met it first time. At 34, he became the oldest goalscorer in Croatia’s World Cup history, a small footnote on a night his country badly needed three points.

Panama did not fold after going behind. Their best spell came in the quarter of an hour that followed, when Amir Murillo forced Dominik Livakovic into two quick saves and the goalkeeper had to push another effort over from the resulting corner. The chances came and went, and with them went Panama’s tournament.

What it means for Group L

The win leaves Croatia third in the group on three points, a step behind England and Ghana, who both sit on four after their goalless draw earlier in the day. It sets up a straightforward equation for the final round: beat Ghana and Croatia are very likely through to the last 32, with a real shot at second place behind England.

For Panama, the maths ran out a game early. Beaten by Ghana in their opener and unable to find a goal across two matches, they are eliminated with a round still to play. Their tournament closes against England on Saturday, a chance to sign off with the kind of result that has so far escaped them.

Croatia, runners-up in 2018 and third four years ago, will not have enjoyed the manner of this one. Dalic’s generation is getting older, and nights like this are reminders that the margins are tighter than they once were. But a win is a win, and after the chastening opening defeat to England, it keeps a familiar World Cup story alive for at least one more match.

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