WORLD CUP GROUP L: The Ultra previews PANAMA v CROATIA with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
🏆 World Cup 2026 🏆
🇵🇦 Panama v Croatia 🇭🇷
12am (Wednesday) Group L’s second round wraps up in the early hours of Wednesday as Panama take on Croatia in Toronto on WORLD CUP 2026 Betdaq Betting Exchange! . With England and Ghana both winning on Matchday One, this is a must win game for both sides, Panama simply cannot afford to go into the final round needing a result against England, and while Croatia would have an easier fixture against Ghana; they can’t afford to lose here either. The stakes couldn’t be any higher then, and we should have a good game. Croatia are the odds on favourites at 1.59 with Panama 7.3 and the draw is 4.1 at the time of writing.
Panama lost with basically the last kick off the ball against Ghana, while Croatia were outplayed by England to lose 4-2. Panama can say they were very unlucky – they had 62% possession and finished the game with the higher xG figure too. They will sense an opportunity against a Croatia side under genuine pressure, but let’s not get too carried away; Panama are an average side. Croatia looked excellent in patches against England, and twice pulled level against an England side that many fancied to win at a canter. The issue was a chaotic, error-strewn defensive showing either side of those goals, and a second half where England’s intensity simply overwhelmed them. There were clear signs here that the attacking talent and game intelligence in this squad hasn’t gone anywhere; the concern is whether the legs can keep pace with younger, fresher opposition.
That concern is largely about Croatia’s aging midfield engine room, the very thing that has carried them to some huge games – including a World Cup Final in fairness. Luka Modric is 40 and reportedly still weighing up retirement after this summer, Ivan Perisic is 37, and Mateo Kovacic, while a class act, is also the wrong side of 30 and coming off an injury-hit club season. It’s a midfield built on guile and game-reading rather than legs. We’ve asked “have the legs gone” plenty of times before with Croatia but the warning signs were there against England, when the energy and physicality of Tuchel’s side eventually told. Panama know a result here is well within reach against a Croatia side carrying both fatigue and pressure, and they have nothing to lose in going at a Croatian defence that looked there for the taking against England.
WORLD CUP 2026 Betdaq Betting Exchange!
In the end, you’d have to expect Croatia’s class to tell, but I do feel that the 1.59 is a little short. It’s hard to make the case that they should be massively shorter to be honest, and I’m happy to stay out of the match odds market here. After the opening loss, Panama need to go after the game here – they have England on their final matchday after all – and with Croatia so open in the first game too, I’d be surprised if we didn’t see goals here. Over 2.5 goals is trading 2.0 and Both Teams To Score is 2.1. I couldn’t put anyone off either bet to be honest, but I’m happy to be on Overs in what should be an entertaining game.
The Ultra Says:
Two points win Over 2.5 goals at 2.0 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/WCPaCr
