Croatia Stuns Panama, Eyes Knockout Spot

Croatia stunned Panama with a 1-0 win, securing their first Group L victory and officially eliminating Panama from the World Cup. Substitute Ante Budimir delivered the decisive goal, setting Croatia on a clear path to the knockout stage with a win over Ghana looming. England still leads the group but hasn’t locked in qualification — a major upset would be needed to change that. Panama, despite scoring their first-ever World Cup goal earlier, couldn’t find the net again, ending their run with grit and heart. Meanwhile, Luka Modric, a Croatian legend, celebrated his 200th cap with a standing ovation after being substituted late in the match — a career milestone that underscored his enduring impact. With two games left, the group remains wide open — Croatia’s path is clear, England’s is perilous, and the knockout stage is still very much up for grabs. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/86a527ec0c52b778