For Panama, the defeat marks the end of their 2026 journey. Thomas Christiansen’s side had shown flashes of quality, particularly in the first half when Jose Luis Rodriguez saw a header deflected onto the underside of the bar by Dominik Livakovic. However, their inability to find the net at this tournament ultimately cost them, as they prepare for a final fixture against England with zero points from two games.
Christiansen remained proud of his team’s effort despite the elimination, saying: “They played with that hunger, with that dedication, with that spirit. That’s what we wanted of the team. I’m super proud of them. They (Croatia) put two shots on goal and scored one.” The Canaleros fought until the very end, winning seven corners and forcing Livakovic into several sharp saves during a frantic second-half spell, but they lacked the clinical edge required at this level.
