Croatia came back to life against Panama, but The Guardian warns: the burden of years is becoming increasingly visible
The Croatian national football team avoided the most dangerous scenario in Group L of the 2026 World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Panama in a match played on June 23 at Toronto Stadium. The only goal was scored by Ante Budimir in the 54th minute, after he came off the bench and made the most of a move that finally broke through Panama's defensive block. According to The Guardian's report, that goal brought Croatia desperately needed points after the opening 4-2 defeat to England, but it did not completely remove the impression that the team is finding it increasingly difficult to rely on the same axis that had kept it among the world's most relevant national teams for years. The English newspaper emphasized that the points were necessary, but it also clearly indicated the broader theme: Croatia must find new energy if it wants to continue living at the highest level of international football. The victory therefore had a double meaning, because it kept the competitive prospects alive and at the same time opened the question of generational renewal.
Budimir changed a match that Croatia had long tried to open up
The match against Panama developed exactly as the Croatian staff, according to announcements by the Croatian Football Federation, could have expected: the opponent was compact, physically strong and ready to wait for space for quick transitions. Croatia had possession and tried to stretch the play, but for a long time struggled to find the final pass and a clear chance inside the penalty area. The Guardian described the first half as hard-fought and tactically congested, with very few promising situations and too little precision in the final third. Panama, according to the same report, showed during that period that it had not come merely to defend the result, but tried several times to exploit the space behind Croatia's full-backs. Still, the decisive moment came only after the break, when Zlatko Dalić's changes altered the rhythm of Croatia's attack.
Budimir came on in the second half and quickly justified the coach's decision. In the 54th minute, Josip Stanišić crossed from the right side, and the Osasuna striker met the ball at the far post and sent it into the net for 1-0. ESPN, in its summary, also highlighted Stanišić's cross as the key detail of the move, while media reports particularly emphasized Budimir's reaction after coming off the bench. For Croatia, it was a goal that changed the situation in the standings, but also the psychological picture of the match. After falling behind, Panama had to come out of its closed structure, which opened more space for Croatian counterattacks, but also created more danger in front of Dominik Livaković's goal.
Modrić's 200th appearance marked the evening
Luka Modrić gave the match a special historical frame, recording his 200th appearance for the Croatian national team against Panama. The Guardian recalled that Modrić thereby became only the fourth footballer in men's senior competition with at least 200 appearances for a national team, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Bader al-Mutawa. After the match, his teammates honored him with shirts bearing the message "Infinite Legacy", which gave the celebration of victory the tone of a farewell to one footballing era, although Modrić's international retirement has not been officially announced. According to The Guardian's report, Croatia's captain appeared modest and almost uncomfortable in those moments in the face of great recognition, which fits the public image of a player who built his career without grand gestures off the pitch. In sporting terms, his jubilee was a reminder of exceptional longevity, but also of the fact that the team still depends to a large extent on a player who has been its organizational center for two decades.
Zlatko Dalić, in the match preview according to a HNS publication, called Modrić the greatest Croatian footballer in history and emphasized his professionalism, seriousness and influence on younger players. Such a statement gained additional weight after the match in Toronto, because Modrić's symbolic importance could not be separated from the competitive context. Croatia needed a victory to stay in contention, and the captain's great jubilee could have turned into a painful moment had the result not been positive. Budimir's goal prevented such a scenario and made it possible for the 200th appearance to be remembered as an evening of returning hope, rather than as a match that closed the door to the tournament. Still, it was precisely that emotional dimension that reinforced The Guardian's assessment that behind the respect for the golden generation, the need for fresh blood is becoming increasingly clear.
The Guardian sees victory, but also a warning
In its report, the English newspaper did not dispute the importance of Croatia's victory, but emphasized that it came in a match in which sluggish reactions and a lack of penetration were visible for a long time. In that sense, the 1-0 win against Panama was not presented as proof of complete stabilization, but as a necessary step that buys time. The Guardian recalled the heights reached by Croatia's core with the 2018 World Cup final and third place in 2022, but stressed that the same core is now naturally approaching the end of its cycle. Such an assessment is not a criticism of the legacy, but a cool sporting analysis of a national team that for years exceeded the demographic and market frameworks in which it operates. That is precisely why the question of renewal is not merely a question of selecting a few younger players, but of how the team's identity can be preserved without complete reliance on Modrić, Ivan Perišić and other veterans.
Croatia also showed in Toronto elements of the experience that marked its greatest tournaments: patience, calmness after a difficult first half and the ability to win a match even when it is not playing particularly convincingly. But at the same time, it also showed why the discussion about a generational change has become unavoidable. The attack was predictable for a long time, the tempo of play did not always break Panama's block, and creating superiority often depended on individual quality and moments of inspiration. Dalić's halftime changes showed that the bench can change the dynamic, but also that the initial plan did not have enough depth against a disciplined opponent. If Croatia wants to remain competitive in the knockout stage, it will have to combine the experience that brought it international reputation with greater speed, verticality and the energy of the players who are coming through.
Panama eliminated, but it did not look like an accidental participant
With the defeat to Croatia, Panama remained without points after two matches and, according to the group standings published by HNS, lost its chances of progressing to the next stage. Still, The Guardian emphasized in its report that this is a national team that has made a significant step forward in international football in recent years. Panama played in the knockout stage of the Copa América in 2024, reached the final of the Concacaf Nations League in 2025, and had already won silver at the Gold Cup in 2023. Those results show that Thomas Christiansen's team is not an outsider without a plan, but a selection with a clear identity, strong defensive organization and pronounced physical play. The problem against Croatia was the same as in some earlier matches at this tournament: it lacked the final quality that would turn well-organized resistance into points.
Christiansen, according to The Guardian, emphasized after the match the fighting spirit and character of his team, but Panama failed to take advantage of the periods in which it forced Croatia into defensive work. Dominik Livaković had to react in several uncomfortable situations, especially after crosses and close-range attempts, confirming that Croatia's victory was not a formality. After conceding, Panama took more risks, but did not have enough precision in the final third, so it ended its second group appearance without a goal. In the final round against England, it will play for an impression and its first points, while Croatia will play against Ghana for the continuation of the tournament. Such an outcome further underlines how important Budimir's goal was for the entire Group L.
Group L remains open for Croatia
According to the table published by HNS after the match, England and Ghana have four points each after two matches, Croatia has three, and Panama is without points. Croatia is third with a negative goal difference, which means the final round brings direct pressure, but also a real opportunity. FIFA's rules for the expanded 2026 World Cup stipulate that the knockout stage, namely the round of 32 national teams, will include the two best teams from each of the 12 groups and the eight best third-placed teams. That means Croatia can also seek a path forward through third place, but relying on comparisons with other groups would be risky. Victory against Ghana is the cleanest route toward continuing the competition, while a draw or defeat would create dependence on other results and ranking criteria.
In that context, the match with Panama cannot be viewed only through the minimal scoreline. It brought Croatia back to competitive life and prevented the final round from becoming almost a formality. At the same time, it showed that the team still does not have complete attacking automation and that, against aggressive, compact opponents, it can get stuck in long periods of sterile possession. The positive thing for Dalić is that the substitutions brought direct benefit, especially Budimir, who showed how much a striker with a clear sense of space can change a match. But the fact that Croatia had to wait until the second half to break Panama is a reminder that considerably more than patience will be needed against Ghana.
The legacy of the golden generation and the question of the next step
In the previous two World Cup cycles, Croatia built the status of a national team that cannot be written off at major tournaments. The 2018 final and third place in 2022 remain the frame through which every new match of this team is viewed, which is both recognition and a burden. The Guardian's warning fits precisely there: respect for the generation that changed the position of Croatian football in the world must not prevent a clear assessment of what is needed for the future. Modrić's 200th appearance is a symbol of greatness, but also a sign of how sensitive the process of transferring responsibility is. New forces must be given space not only as substitutes in the closing stages of matches, but as players who can carry the tempo, pressing and creativity in key moments.
Dalić, in the preview of the match with Panama according to HNS, spoke about the need for Croatia to be brave, decisive and more responsible than in the defeat to England. The victory showed part of that response, but it did not solve all the questions. Croatia stayed alive, Modrić's jubilee received a winning frame, and Budimir became the man who brought calm at the right moment. Still, the continuation of the tournament will require a broader picture: more rhythm in midfield, more vertical solutions in attack and clearer integration of players who should take over future roles. That is precisely why the triumph over Panama was important, but not sufficient proof that the transition from a glorious past to a new competitive reality has already been completed.
Sources: - The Guardian – report from the Panama - Croatia match, analysis of Modrić's jubilee, Budimir's goal and the broader context of Croatia's generation (link) - FIFA – official match centre for Panama - Croatia at the 2026 World Cup (link) - FIFA – official rules for the group format and qualification for the round of 32 national teams at the 2026 World Cup (link) - Croatian Football Federation – match preview, Zlatko Dalić's statements and the published Group L table after the match against Panama (link) - ESPN – summary of the result, scorer and key move for Ante Budimir's goal (link)