As the World Cup progresses, Croatia finds itself in a must-win situation against Panama on June 24 at 6 AM (Vietnam time) in Toronto, Canada. After suffering a 2-4 defeat to England in their opening match, Croatia is determined to secure their first points in the tournament. The European team is favored due to their strong squad and experience in major tournaments.

Currently, both teams are eager to earn their first points. Croatia sits at the bottom of Group L following their loss to England, while Panama is just above them, having lost narrowly to Ghana 0-1 on June 18. Despite their defeat, Panama received praise for effectively neutralizing Ghana's key players, Antoine Semenyo and Jordan Ayew, for most of the match. However, they paid the price for their high pressing in the final minutes, allowing Ghana to score in stoppage time.

Panama, ranked 34th in the world, faces a daunting task ahead. With only eight third-placed teams advancing, another loss would severely diminish their chances of progressing. The only scenario that could keep their hopes alive after a loss to Croatia would be for England to lose to Ghana, followed by a victory over England in their final group match.

Coach Thomas Christiansen aims to make history by helping Panama secure their first-ever World Cup points. Previously, in their 2018 World Cup debut, Panama lost all three matches against Belgium, England, and Tunisia. A win against Croatia would mark their third victory in nine matches, while another loss would extend their winless streak to four games.

On the Croatian side, the defeat to England was not unexpected given the strength of their opponents. However, concerns about the team's physical condition and ability to handle pressure remain. Coach Zlatko Dalic noted that his team struggled to escape pressing and was frequently pinned back. Despite these challenges, he believes their experience can guide them to the knockout stage.

In terms of squad strength, Croatia boasts six players from their 2018 World Cup squad, including veteran Luka Modric, who at 40 years old is expected to start. The midfield will likely feature Modric alongside Mateo Kovacic and Mario Pasalic, creating a blend of experience and creativity. Up front, Andrej Kramaric may lead the attack, supported by Petar Musa and Ivan Perisic.

Both teams are expected to field their strongest line-ups, with Panama potentially missing key players due to yellow card suspensions. The predicted line-ups are as follows:

• Panama: Mosquera; Ramos, Cordoba, Andrade; Murillo, Harvey, Barcenas, Blackman; Martinez, Waterman, Rodriguez
• Croatia: Livakovic; Stanisic, Sutalo, Vuskovic, Gvardiol; Modric, Kovacic, Pasalic; Perisic, Musa, Kramaric

Prediction: Panama 1-3 Croatia. While Panama may pose more challenges than anticipated, Croatia's experience and resilience in critical matches are expected to shine through.