Panama vs Croatia Predictions

• Croatia have nine wins in their last 13 games
• Croatia have scored at least three goals in four of their last nine games
• Panama have scored in five of their last six games

Croatia can get back on track

Croatia slipped to a 4-2 defeat to England in their World Cup opener but they can respond by seeing off minnows Panama.

Los Canaleros came within seconds of picking up their first ever World Cup point in their second appearance in the summer showpiece but conceded a last-gasp goal against Ghana.

Panama now face the prospect of needing positive results against both Croatia and England, and they appear destined to fall at the first hurdle.

Croatia may have lost to the Three Lions but they showed enough guile and ingenuity in attack to suggest they can escape the group stage and they can beat Panama and cover a -1 handicap.

The Europeans have won nine of their last 13 games and have won by more than one goal in five of those. Panama came into the tournament in good form but are susceptible to heavy defeats, having lost 6-2 to Brazil in a warm-up game.

Croatia have scored at least three goals in four of their last nine games and a 3-1 win for Zlatko Dalic’s men is the correct score pick. Panama will be keen to get on the scoresheet even if they do fall a few goals behind and they had scored in five straight games before drawing a blank against Ghana – they are also facing a Croatia side who have gone seven games without a clean sheet.

Petar Musa was handed a start for Croatia against England and he managed to get on the scoresheet. Musa has been in exceptional form in MLS this season with 12 goals in 13 games for FC Dallas and he is a contender for an anytime effort against Panama.