Croatia keeps World Cup hopes alive and sends Panama home with 1-0 win

Ante Budimir guided Croatia to a 1-0 win over a stubborn Panama side in their World Cup Group L clash on Tuesday, giving the Balkan side its first three points and eliminating the Central Americans on a night where the stakes were high for both sides

Ante Budimir guided Croatia to a 1-0 win over a stubborn Panama side in their World Cup Group L clash on Tuesday, giving the Balkan side its first three points and eliminating the Central Americans on a night where the stakes were high for both sides.

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Croatia and Panama came into the match looking for their first points, knowing a loss would send them home after England and Ghana tied 0-0 earlier in the other game in the section.

Croatia could not find an answer to Panama’s well-organized back five in the first half and goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic waved his arms in the air minutes before halftime, urging the wall of fans behind his goal to drive the team forward.