Croatia enter as clear favourites against Panama, with the model's strength ratings reflecting a substantial gap between the two sides. The data points to a comfortable advantage for the 2018 finalists, who should control possession and tempo throughout this group-stage encounter.

Panama face a stern test against superior opposition. While they'll aim to stay organised defensively and exploit rare opportunities on the counter, Croatia's technical quality and experience should prove decisive. The model sees this as a mismatch in the teams' overall capabilities, favouring the European side to dictate proceedings.