Published Jun 8, 1:30pm ET by
Demilade Adelekun - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 8, 1:30pm ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Jun 8, 1:30pm ET
Panama and Croatia meet on matchday 2 of Group L at BMO Field in Toronto, with Croatia looking to recover after their opening fixture against England.
Luka Modrić captains Croatia at his sixth World Cup, joining Ronaldo and Messi as the only male players to reach that milestone.
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| CROATIA | -185 |
| DRAW | +310 |
| PANAMA | +550 |
Luka Modrić is 40 years old and playing in his sixth World Cup. Nobody else has done that except Ronaldo and Messi. He moved to AC Milan after his Real Madrid contract expired and spent the season reminding people he still belongs at the highest level. He remains Croatia's creative spine; the player who sets the tempo, picks the passes, and decides when Croatia attack. Mateo Kovačić provides the legs alongside him from Manchester City. Andrej Kramarić leads the line with 70 international goals. Ivan Perišić, at 36, still threatens from the left with the direct running he has carried through four World Cups.
Joško Gvardiol returned from a fractured shin in May and was cleared for the tournament by coach Zlatko Dalić. At 22, he is one of the best defenders in the world, and his availability changes Croatia's ceiling considerably. Croatia finished second at the 2018 World Cup and third in 2022. They know how to grind results at this level. Against Panama, they won't need to be at their best.
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Panama make their second ever World Cup appearance. Thomas Christiansen has built a side around defensive organization and set-piece threat, and they topped their CONCACAF qualifying group without losing a match. That is a genuine achievement. José Córdoba leads from centre-back, and 38-year-old Alberto Quintero and 36-year-old captain Anibal Godoy bring experience to a squad ranked 33rd in the world.
The problem is the attacking end. Panama's forward line is built for compact, counter-attacking football against CONCACAF opposition. Against Gvardiol, Ćaleta-Car, and a Croatian defence with six seasons of Champions League experience across it, creating chances becomes a different problem. They need Croatia to be off; tired, disorganized, or already through. None of those conditions apply on matchday 2.
Modrić and Kovačić control the midfield and Kramarić finds space behind Panama's compact block. Croatia have too much quality in every line for Panama's defensive structure to contain for 90 minutes. This is Modrić's last chance at a trophy. He won't waste it. We're backing Croatia -185.
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Pick
Croatia -185
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