Croatia edge Panama to keep World Cup hopes alive

Croatia edge Panama to keep World Cup hopes alive Croatia secured their first points of the World Cup on Tuesday with a narrow 1-0 win over Panama, courtesy of a second-half strike from substitute Ante Budimir, a result that eliminated the Central American side from Group L contention. Croatia netted a second-half goal from substitute Ante Budimir to beat Panama 1-0 for their first points of the World Cup in a high-stakes Group L clash on Tuesday that eliminated the Central American side. On a night when Croatia captain Luka Modric became the second European to earn a 200th cap, the Balkan side broke the deadlock when Budimir, alone at the back post, converted a deep cross in the 54th minute. Croatia, who struggled to assert their dominance in the first half, nearly doubled their lead moments later when Marco Pasalic broke through one-on-one, but he could not beat the Panama goalkeeper and then skied the rebound. Both sides were desperate for points after a 0-0 draw earlier on Tuesday between England and Ghana meant the losers would have no hope of reaching the knockout round. (FRANCE 24 with Reuters)