Match-winner Ante Budimir rejoices after helping keep Croatia's World Cup hopes alive

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a] beat a battling [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/panama/OWKqbCfi/"]Panama[/a] side at the Toronto stadium on Tuesday ‌, in a game neither side could afford to lose after both teams had started their campaigns with a defeat.[/p][p]Croatia's win courtesy of a ‌second-half goal from substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/budimir-ante/IeVXGQOi/"]Budimir[/a] ⁠kept alive their ‌hopes of reaching the Round of 32.[/p][p][b]"... so ​there we have started in this tournament and hope we draw the ​right lessons and continue to build on this victory,"[/b] Budimir told reporters.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="89abb924-803e-41c3-944b-a535d4b606f4" credit-line="StatsPerform via Opta" guid="1d13053d-077c-4ec9-8e48-d8cef190e64c" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Croatia, who lost ⁠4-2 to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]​England[/a] in their World Cup opener, are third in Group L on three points before facing a stubborn [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ghana/nNBjHale/"]Ghana[/a] side on Saturday in ‌Philadelphia.[/p][p]England lead on four points above Ghana on goal difference.[/p][p][b]"I am happy that I secured my first goal at the World Cup; it is important for us to start winning and get back to the team we were before,"[/b] Budimir said.[/p][p]Croatia's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/modric-luka/bZWyoJnA/"]Luka Modric[/a], 40, played his 200th ‌international and was thrown in the air ​by his teammates after the match.[/p][p]Budimir explained ‌that it was nice to enjoy such milestones with a celebration, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/croatia-K8aznggo/panama-OWKqbCfi/?mid=CSkWyxM6"]especially when the team win[/a].[/p][p][b]"We are grateful to have a captain like Luka - a great player ⁠and a great ⁠person,"[/b] Budimir added.[/p]