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00:01Every World Cup Finals has a day that truly shapes a particular group.
00:06This may well be the pivotal evening in Europe.
00:09Will that be better tonight for Panama?
00:11For Croatia, obviously, four goals conceded against England.
00:14Managed to break through a few times, but with the experience,
00:17some of that experience almost.
00:21Flags predominantly of red, white and blue of Croatia and of Panama.
00:32The scene setting on-field at this FIFA World Cup 2026.
00:47It's for no team at the top level.
00:50You don't get a chance to settle into a FIFA World Cup
00:54as kickoff edges ever closer.
01:03Well, no matter where you are in the world, it's always the case at a major tournament
01:06that if you lose your opening game, you're on the back foot and game two becomes crucial.
01:13That's the case for these two tonight.
01:15Yeah, and I have to say the stadium, we've witnessed some brilliant crowds.
01:19Might be recency buyers.
01:22Well, the lineups then.
01:23Panama have lost each of their four World Cup group games to date.
01:27This is the XI looking to make history tonight by grabbing a first ever point or victory.
01:31There's a change in attack from the last gasp Garner defeat.
01:34Jose Farsat Pajardo replaced Cecilia Waterman during match day one and does so from the off tonight.
01:39Otherwise, they're unchanged with starters Joel Basinas and Jose Luis Rodriguez
01:43having started all three games at the 2018 finals.
01:46The talented talisman Adalberto Karaskia still not quite fit enough to start.
01:51Anibal Godoy, Panama's most cap player of all time, waits in the wings too.
01:54As at previous major tournaments, Croatia's side is very much built around the style and staying power
02:00of Luka Modric, Ivan Pedersic and Mateo Kovacic.
02:03Modric already his country's most cap player, makes appearance number 200 for his nation tonight.
02:08Only the second European to reach that milestone after Cristiano Ronaldo.
02:12Three changes from the England defeat.
02:13The aforementioned Kovacic, Marin Pongracic and Marko Pasalic
02:17replaced Luka Vujkovic, Mario Pasalic and Petar Suchic.
02:21Panama fans, time for you to cheerlead!
02:25Indeed, there was frustration in both camps after their respective opening losses.
02:29Thomas Christensen.
02:30The run done by a late Ghana goal.
02:32There was little consolation for Croatia in being involved in one of the most entertaining matches of the opening round.
02:37As they were...
02:40And so we're set and ready with...
02:43Three, two, one...
02:49Established pedigree meets underdog spirit.
02:53Podium finishes in each of the last World Cups have underlined Croatia's style and steel on the global stage.
02:59Panama have achieved a fair bit in just being here, but now want to make their presence felt at these
03:04finals.
03:08What a glorious evening in Toronto.
03:12Four in through the back door.
03:14To be edged out by England.
03:19We expect a level of control in the early moments perhaps from Croatia.
03:23That's the way it's playing out at least.
03:25A darting run, the ball towards Modric.
03:28And it skips up and over.
03:30That international game here in Toronto Stadium is exactly what these Croatian fans have come for as well.
03:36And that would have added something to it if he could have...
03:40Down goes Christian Martinez.
03:43Who was a real live wire here against Ghana the other night.
03:47Just ran out of steam towards the end.
03:48That was, exactly.
03:50I was just thinking exactly the same thing.
03:51He was lively in that first game.
03:53Taking a while to...
03:56Work out how they're going to work this free kick.
03:59Opportunity might present itself here.
04:02Rodriguez charging onto it as well, but it's just tucked away.
04:06When it was looking...
04:07Just trying to unnerve Mateo Kovacic, who's been there and seen it many times before.
04:12Modric with the ball over, just touched by Ramos.
04:16A key intervention.
04:17If it wasn't, look at this is something that we see a lot from the legend.
04:25It rolls past Guardiol.
04:27It's collected by Harvey.
04:30Martinez to help.
04:33Kovacic went for the ball, but didn't appear to get any of it.
04:41Good feat and a good decision by the official. I thought that that was the right call.
04:46He was very close to getting something on it.
04:49But a good decent position here for Panama.
04:52To get something on net.
04:55That was lovely from Barcelona.
04:58Barsenas.
04:59Plenty in there to try and profit from it, but it's seen off with relative ease.
05:03To ping one of those passes forward we've seen so often in the colors of Tottenham Hotspur Real Madrid.
05:09And of course, most recently AC Milani went flying into that one.
05:14He gave it a yellow card.
05:16I like the tenacity from Modric because even a great player like him, he gave the ball away and he
05:21wanted to fight to get it back.
05:23And in the end he's just a little bit late with his challenge.
05:26And the foul given and a word to Modric by the referee.
05:33Lovely little moment there from Baturina.
05:37Modric.
05:40As the wind starts to whip around the Toronto Stadium.
05:43It's the ball in that just took off really as it headed towards Ivan Peresic.
05:50But there's some other unbelievable players here for Croatia with Ivan Peresic.
05:55Managing in club football in Cyprus, England and Belgium.
06:01Panama flying forwards.
06:04And Valhalla flying towards the ball.
06:07All it needed was a touch.
06:10Ivakovic will claim that one.
06:13And Croatia will breathe a touch from Rodriguez.
06:15The gallop forward from Andrade here.
06:19Looking for Fajardo.
06:20Where's it going to roll?
06:22And on to the boot of Peresic.
06:24Much to the relief of Croatia.
06:27Really good lively open start here.
06:32Modric.
06:34Options gathering in the middle for Croatia here.
06:39Vasilic with the ball over.
06:42And the way to safety for now.
06:51Kovacic.
06:53Kovacic.
06:56Kovacic.
06:59Kovacic.
07:02and Gradiol
07:13Gradiol the give and go from Modric
07:15who just got it tangled under his feet
07:21we've had some interesting challenges
07:24the referees let a little bit go on
07:26that's okay
07:26they both players
07:27sets of players all across the face of the net
07:31the heart of very very close to getting on the end of it
07:35Christensen wants to see that in the back of the net
07:39for Panama they want to make them count today
07:42here's Martinez leading the charge
07:46and in the end it was a routine with a few in the middle
07:50just by Martinez in a great position
07:51that's he's not going for goal there
07:53but they from that angle
08:04challenge on Martinez this time he does win the free kick
08:11the Panama bench very unhappy with that challenge and making their feelings known
08:17Martinez in and amongst it again
08:21immediately back in organizational mode
08:25Martinez looking for Morizio this time it's going to hold up for him is it
08:29just about really good chance stunning save
08:34it seemed a goal all ends up
08:39and Livakovic just clawed it onto the crossbar
08:42astonishingly close
08:43that was brilliant by Panama and this is what we saw against Ghana
08:46and they didn't take their chances and this is exactly the same scenario
08:49what a ball that is it was close to going out
08:51good header
08:54the great angle of it
08:56does the goalkeeper get a touch to it
08:58absolutely does he ever
09:00what a save that is
09:03just before the hydration break
09:05indeed a pause after that
09:08for reflection and refreshment
09:16Vardyol
09:17looking for
09:19Petršić
09:22well Martinez wins it but unfairly
09:25he thought he was in there he had a fair bit of green grass
09:28yeah we've
09:31got to see a little bit of this player Martinez and he's been
09:34in a match
09:36saying that we saw them tire
09:38significantly in the second half against Ghana so that's due to injuries
09:44last season scoring seven goals
09:46for Manchester City his most prolific campaign since 2014-15 when he scored eight for Inter Milan
09:59that's a free kick given away by Barcenas
10:07one of two players in the Panama
10:11swirls into the box it's Harvey who sticks it right up in the air
10:16good old-fashioned up and under
10:24half an hour plate
10:25half an hour plate
10:47twenty-six minutes in total in the whole tournament
10:52under pressure here as Martinez
10:55tries to burrow his way through and eventually is penalized for a hand ball
11:06Martinez just didn't have the pace to get past the defenders
11:14trying as hard as he can to see if he could even draw a foul
11:22oh well Cordoba went right through the back of Baterina
11:28wasn't sure if the referee was going to give that but
11:30an advantage to be played but there's no question about
11:33the foul
11:37that arena has been very lively in this match
11:44we're still waiting for that because that one was
11:48disappearing away from Panama's grasp
11:51Ramos
11:54Martinez just managing to poke it on to Mourinho
11:57what can they produce here
11:59well
12:00Croatia were at sixes and sevens
12:03and Panama just couldn't quite
12:05well Panama coming into this match obviously playing against real quality
12:09they don't see in Konka Cup very often of course and
12:13you have to say in the
12:16this part of the game so far they have to be delighted it must be building in
12:19confidence my only concern would be
12:23the depth of the squad and also the energy they could show later parts of this
12:27match which Ghana really
12:30no chance for Croatia to stretch the legs here
12:34Pasalic
12:36there is always
12:41always done well away from Guardiola
12:44what about the end product well there isn't any
12:47just seem to run out of room run out of ideas
12:55Martinez tries to keep up the positivity here
12:57and the possession
13:12another searching cross in
13:16more unconvincing Croatia defending albeit
13:19with a foul from Mourinho
13:21it's been a very physical game
13:23we would expect that space is tight
13:27everybody knows what's at stake there's massive
13:29match for the lively and busy in the middle of the park at least
13:35one attempt from each side so far both coming in the opening four minutes of the game
13:44you do have to strike a balance on a day like this between
13:48desperately going for the win that keeps your but not losing
13:52that would end them some nice pieces of skill coming out here
13:56yeah there's been some individual brilliance by both sides and on occasions and you're
14:02you're right Salic and Baturina
14:06poor just desperately waiting for the cross make that five with Modric joining the penalty area now
14:13in towards Moussa
14:16trying to send that towards his captain
14:19that'll be a free kick to Panama
14:25and Stanisic there just Pasalic I think that had Panama won the ball there they would have been away
14:31yeah with numbers as well and Croatia were short at the back
14:33is in qualifying
14:35plays this football for San Diego these days
14:41there you go Croatia looking to end the half with a flourish
14:44Perisic was winding up to head that goalwards
14:47Rodrigo took it away from him
14:49one of the few occasions where we've seen Croatia get to the byline and cross it in
14:53but I have to say give credit to Panama they've marked
14:59Pajado for Mauricio
15:03and Guardiol showing his quality
15:09foul on Baturina as we enter a minimum of three added minutes at the end of this half
15:16that's been a half of lots of energy
15:19very physical and very very tight with very few chances
15:26shoot the low forwards for Pasalic looking at a switch for Perisic
15:37Baturina found some room for the shot it was well worth having a go
15:42they had to be shoveled away a little by Orlando Mosquera well for a player who's been very lively in
15:47the first
15:48out this is a decent strike to the near post
15:50it's going it's going it's very well to get across
15:56it's not really dealt with by Panama
15:59eventually it's welly clear
16:18half time and in terms of attacking intent not an awful lot to discuss really but
16:23plenty going on in the middle of the park a very competitive game
16:28a high level of work rate truly to speak of at the break in terms of chances an industrious first
16:35period we hope for the inspiration in the second nil nil
16:40well the challenge for the two head coaches at half time is to
16:45try and make more happen from their players in the second half with words of advice perhaps some
16:50tactical tweaks but ultimately it would be said that it's an impressive Panama
17:01well as we restart Panama are 45 minutes away from their first ever world cup point
17:07this is a score line that would keep both sides alive in Group L into match day three
17:13Croatia have only been involved in three goalless draws in their 31 world cup matches prior to today
17:21two of those coming in the last world cup in Qatar 2022 the other some 20 years ago
17:33Andre Kramaric calling for it the other substitute
17:40being watched very closely and having to offload this is Modric being pestered by Fajardo and ultimately fouled
17:56the start of the second half into the slot vacated by the departing gladiol
18:03Hamilton at thelast for he and ready second half comes of Prinhas
18:15flavour junkie
18:20Stana sisic for this from
18:25started from crazyмы
18:27B자레 Förar
18:28Spendeих
18:29Mastro eva
18:29Priness
18:3019,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
18:30,000,000.000 on the
18:30way forwards and Peresic found delightfully oh he hasn't taken it with
18:37him. Martinez and again it's neatly worked just too far away from Rodriguez
18:47and Vasilic wasn't sure just decided to play and say go through head-to-head
18:53record being key. Here go Croatia whipped across and in! Budimir bounces off the
19:07bench
19:10and the Croatian class comes to the fore. You have to say from Croatia's point of
19:16view this is a very rare occasion when they've got to a position to drive a
19:19ball in between the defenders and the goalkeeper with some quality. They
19:24finally do that. Moussa's probably wishing he was on the pitch to receive
19:28something so brilliantly done really for something of his quality for close range
19:33the substitute makes it 1-0.
19:41He has had a wonderful season in front of goal for his club now
19:46Goal scored by player number 11, Ante Budimir
19:54Deferences to teams
19:59His first goal for Croatia for a year as well
20:04Last one was a penalty
20:06as it's
20:07clicked off a Croatian head for a corner to Panama as they look for the immediate
20:16response
20:17Jose Luis Rodriguez to take the corner
20:21It's an inviting one
20:23and as far as Barcenas who was met by a few
20:26who will now gallop in the other direction and Modric plays it through
20:30it's Pasalic here
20:33One on one
20:35Still there for him
20:38Well, he tried the finesse
20:40He tried the force
20:41What an opportunity for breaking from their own defensive set piece
20:46Deal with it well
20:48Panama only have really one man back at the stage and
20:50nobody to pick up
20:52And it's clearing on a goal but look at Vascoldeira
20:58Luskerra does very very well to stand out because he's
21:03Andrade losing out and back it goes to Livakovic
21:11And that's a Croatia ball
21:13And that's a Croatia ball
21:17Biggest stage
21:19We've also seen substitutes come to the fore
21:21140 goals scored at this World Cup finals now
21:2428 of those from players who started the match on the bench
21:29As Barcenas is shown a yellow card
21:32Yeah, I have to say they don't
21:34We saw that in the last match
21:36Oh, there's Modric taken
21:38Pretty good knock
21:39It's a pretty blatant
21:42Challenge
21:43Down goes Martinez
21:49Cordoba stepping in this is Blackman now
21:53Paul Rodriguez
21:55Bahálo waits in the middle
21:57Martinez was trying to gamble on it dropping to him
22:01Cross straight at Modric
22:04Picked up by Rodriguez
22:08It could be an interesting one
22:10Peresic had to step in
22:19Stamashic with the challenge
22:21Martinez here
22:25The way to Budimir who wriggles free
22:31Panama looking increasingly vulnerable on the break
22:37Cordoba
22:38Might well have won the ball cleanly in the end
22:40Difficult decisions to make some really tight ones
22:43Clip there
22:44That's what he's given the foul for
22:47A little unfortunate
22:48Panama
22:49Blackman
22:51Rodriguez with him
22:53He just couldn't quite look up and see Barcenas who was free
22:59I so often say it's not just about ability is it but that ability to make decisions
23:05It can be the difference in games like this as Levakovic comes out to claim and is protected somewhat by
23:13Pongracic
23:14Not
23:21Martinez
23:21Martinez brilliant work
23:23Keeps it alive keeps it moving
23:25Mauricio
23:26Barcenas
23:29Trying to slalom his way through
23:31Mauricio hits it
23:32And again
23:34And Levakovic equal to both
23:40Oh this is fantastic work by Martinez
23:42He's been brilliant for Panama
23:44Keeping that ball in
23:46These efforts from Panama
23:47Yeah this was really good
23:49This is not a shot you would expect a goalkeeper of his quality
23:51He sees it all the way
23:53That's a good save there
23:54Pushes it out to a wide position and then palms it
23:56Brilliantly out for a corner into safety
24:00Good goalkeeping
24:01Really good goalkeeping
24:06But it's goals that win matches
24:09And saves as well
24:11To add that in
24:14Rodriguez fighting hard
24:17And getting a corner for his job
24:20Rodriguez with the corner
24:22All the way through
24:23Harvey wouldn't quite sit for him
24:26And he finds the wrong side of the net
24:28Yeah that's disappointing
24:30Try to drive that across the face of the goal is really what you want to try to do
24:34You're not going to beat a goalkeeper
24:36Like that from that angle
24:38With his positioning and angles
24:44Mauricio working hard to try and find number two
24:47And they've got a free kick in a
24:49Very promising position here
25:00Yeah it looked like a foul and
25:02Referee waited a couple seconds just before he gave the foul
25:05See if there was an event
25:07Such it hits it and the wall
25:09Took the sting out of it
25:22Down goes Martinez
25:27Panama definitely not making it easy for Croatia
25:31This player Martinez has been excellent
25:37And that's just massively over hit from Eric Davis who's only just come on
25:42The last world cup finals
25:44The last world cup finals they participated in the 2018 edition in Russia
25:52Here's Waterman Rodriguez
25:56Fighting together to try and make something happen
25:59Sliding challenge from Suic is punished with the yellow card
26:02I think Suic has a little bit of unfortunate catchism right there at the back of the legs
26:06But there's a few steps before the cup dream
26:10It's Murillo and it wasn't even close
26:18And they are nearly over the line now Croatia
26:25Yeah I don't really test into the game holding up the play
26:28Drawing a few fouls
26:31He has actually become Croatia's oldest world cup goal scorer
26:36Overtaking Ivica Olic
26:41They're looking to finish it off here
26:43Budimir will give chase
26:47And wins a throw
26:51The clock ticking in Croatia's favour all the time
27:10It's a Panama throw
27:15We have had the five added minutes
27:19And we've got the whistle
27:22Croatia are up and running
27:25And are into contention in Group L
27:29Once again at these world cup finals
27:31A substitute holds the key to victory
27:35Ante Budimir coming up with the goods
27:39Panama are eliminated with a game to spare
27:42They've won plenty of plaudits at these finals
27:45But sadly for them
27:46Costa Rica, Honduras
27:49Panama have proved that there have been a well worth their
27:53their might to be able to make the world cup here and
27:56their second time in the world cup's first time in 2018
28:03And so from here Croatia move on to Philadelphia
28:08where they finish the group stage against Ghana
28:13Panama head to New Jersey where England will lie in wait
28:20Group L needs a group winner
28:22It needs a team in second place
28:25And quite possibly the team in third will
28:28qualify as one of the eight best third place teams
28:35And that will all be decided when they all come together on Saturday
28:41For the final story to be written in this group
28:48Not many Croatian fans have left the stadium
28:50They're enjoying absolutely every second of it
28:53It's just the Panamanian fans who have been absolutely brilliant
28:57In the city they've just been here
29:00weekend day in day out really
29:02And it's been a lot of fun having them as part of this world cup
29:06You see Croatia's reaction after a very difficult game
29:10They're not celebrating over celebrating because they know they've got some work to do
29:15Like we said they can manage games and manage football tournaments as good as anybody so
29:19They're not over just yet
29:20And they've got to face off against the Ghana side unbeaten so far of course winners here in Toronto
29:26Against Panama and then holding England to a draw
29:30So there's no suggestion that that will be a an easy game for Croatia
29:35Indeed as it stands Croatia would be in third spot in the group
29:41And we'll need to win that game
29:43These are numbers from today Croatia with more of the ball Panama with more attempts
29:48And ultimately the introduction of Ante Budimir was key for the Croatians with that all-important touch in front of
29:58goal
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