Panama and Croatia enter their World Cup Group L clash knowing that anything less than a positive result could leave their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds hanging by a thread.
Both sides opened the tournament with defeats—Panama losing 1–0 to Ghana and Croatia falling 4–2 to England. Panama was arguably the better team for large periods against Ghana, controlling possession and creating the clearer chances, but a late lapse in concentration proved costly for Thomas Christiansen’s side.
