Panama
Croatia
Team Overview
In their last World Cup match, Panama faced Ghana away and suffered a narrow defeat, losing 1-0. This result leaves them searching for their first points in the tournament.
Match statistics (Ghana vs Panama):
Team Overview
Croatia played against England in their last World Cup outing, where they fell 4-2. This defeat has left them in search of their first victory in the tournament.
Match statistics (England vs Croatia):
In a tightly contested match, Croatia edged out Panama with a 1-0 victory, thanks to a second-half goal from Ante Budimir. The win solidifies Croatia's position in the group stage of the World Cup.
The match saw Croatia dominate possession with 64%, while Panama struggled to assert themselves, managing only 36% of the ball. Despite the disparity in possession, both teams had limited opportunities, with Croatia registering just two total shots compared to Panama's solitary attempt.
Budimir's decisive goal came in the 54th minute, assisted by Josip Stanisic, marking the only breakthrough in a match where both defenses held firm. Panama's attempts to respond were thwarted, as they failed to register a single shot on target throughout the game.
Discipline was evident, with both teams receiving a yellow card; Panama's Y. Barcenas was cautioned in the 61st minute, while Croatia's P. Sucic received his booking deep into stoppage time. Ultimately, Croatia's tactical discipline and ability to capitalize on their chances proved decisive in this encounter.
Panama has struggled in their recent matches, with only one game played in the last ten, resulting in a loss against Ghana (0-1). Their performance showed a lack of offensive threat, as they failed to score and only managed one total shot in that match.
On the other hand, Croatia has played one match recently, losing to England (2-4). Despite the loss, they managed to score two goals and demonstrated a more potent attack compared to Panama, suggesting a better overall form heading into this encounter.
In their last head-to-head match, Croatia defeated Panama 1-0, showcasing their dominance with 1 goal scored and 1 corner kick. Panama, in contrast, had no corners and failed to register any shots on target. The expected goals (xG) for Panama was a mere 0.06, indicating a significant struggle to create scoring opportunities.
With Croatia holding 64% possession in their last match and having a higher total of shots, they are likely to control the game against Panama, who had only 36% possession and struggled to create chances.
Expect Croatia to maintain a strong midfield presence, utilizing their ball control to limit Panama's chances. They may focus on quick transitions to exploit any defensive gaps left by Panama, who will likely sit back and defend.
O. Mosquera
G
J. Ramos
D
J. Cordoba
D
A. Andrade
D
M. Murillo
M
C. Harvey
M
Y. Barcenas
M
C. Blackman
M
C. Martinez
—
C. Waterman
F
J. Rodriguez
F
D. Livakovic
G
J. Sutalo
D
L. Vuskovic
D
J. Gvardiol
D
J. Stanisic
M
L. Modric
M
M. Pasalic
M
I. Perisic
M
P. Sucic
F
M. Baturina
F
P. Musa
F
