The atmosphere at the beginning of the game was completely different from the public's expectations of Croatia's overwhelming superiority. Panama adopted an extremely dense defensive tactic called 5-4-1, completely blocking Croatia's midfield commander Modric from having space to distribute the ball. Modric tried to find a breakthrough with his unique vision throughout the game, but was blocked by Panama's harsh pressure and mobility and struggled throughout the first half, unable to create any significant shots. In particular, in the 23rd minute of the first half, Panama's Jose Rodriguez's attempted header hit the goalpost, chilling Croatia's nerves, and the atmosphere of the game was filled with tension that Panama might cause an upset.

Coach Zlatko Dalic, who witnessed the frustration of the first half, threw a game-winning move right after halftime. This decision to bring in Ante Budimir and Andrej Kramaric at the same time to revitalize the offensive line was truly a 'act of God.' In the 9th minute of the second half, side fullback Josip Stanisic made a sophisticated cross, and Budimir, who was rushing, hit the net with a sensational left-footed shot. This goal, scored just 9 minutes after coming on as a substitute, was a valuable winning goal that saved Croatia from the brink. Afterwards, Panama launched an all-out offensive to make up for the loss, but Croatia's goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic sealed the goal with a series of super saves, ending the victory.

The biggest topic of this game was Luka Modric's 200th international appearance. Modric, who became the fourth player in soccer history to reach 200 games after Cristiano Ronaldo, Bader Al Mutawa, and Lionel Messi, clearly showed his veteran quality as he roamed around the stadium that day. Although he failed to record any offensive points, his mere presence on the pitch helped the team focus. In the 36th minute of the second half, the coach, predicting victory, called Modric to the bench, and the crowd honored the legendary feat with a standing ovation. This was enough to go beyond simply achieving a record and become a symbol of the glorious history of Croatian football.

Depending on the outcome of the game, the fates of both teams were sharply divided. Croatia, with 1 win and 1 loss, took 3rd place in the group with 3 points, keeping alive the faint hope of advancing to the round of 32, and their final fierce battle with Ghana on the 28th will decide their advancement to the tournament. On the other hand, Panama, who suffered two losses, was confirmed to be eliminated from the group stage regardless of the results of the remaining games. It was a painful result for Panama as they ended the tournament without being able to break the chain of losing streak in the World Cup that had continued since the 2018 tournament, along with the disappointment of not being able to capitalize on the opportunities in the first half.