CroatiavsGhana

Result

Croatia came from behind to win the game they had to win, taking second place in Group L. Petar Sučić curled in the opener midway through the first half, Derrick Luckassen volleyed Ghana level from a set piece just after the hour, but Nikola Vlašić's header seven minutes from time settled it. Ghana still go through as one of the best third-placed teams.

Croatia 4-2-3-14-1-4-1 Ghana

Croatia

Ghana

Petar Sučić31'

Derrick Luckassen73'

Nikola Vlašić83'

Ivan Perišić68'

Kojo Peprah Oppong90'+4'

53%Possession47%

8Shots6

4On target1

0Saves2

3Corners2

477Passes completed402

91%Pass accuracy88%

14Tackles13

9Touches in box9

Substitutions

Igor Matanovićfor Ante Budimirat 66'

Kojo Peprah Oppongfor Jonas Adjeteyat 45'

Mario Pašalićfor Mateo Kovačićat 78'

Fatawu Issahakufor Elisha Owusuat 45'

Joško Gvardiolfor Nikola Vlašićat 88'

Brandon Thomas-Asantefor Jordan Ayewat 71'

Marco Pašalićfor Martin Baturinaat 88'

Ernest Nuamahfor Kamaldeen Sulemanaat 71'

Caleb Yirenkyifor Kwasi Siboat 85'

At this Stage

Croatia needed a win to be sure of anything and got one, Nikola Vlašić's header seven minutes from time turning a tense night in Philadelphia into second place in Group L on six points — a full recovery from opening the group with a 4-2 defeat to England. England themselves finished top on seven, unbeaten, after dispatching Panama 2-0. The cost lands on Ghana: four points, built on a win over Panama and that resolute goalless draw with England, would buy second place in some groups; in this one it buys third and a seat in the best-third waiting room, their fate now resting on arithmetic in other people's matches. Panama finish bottom, pointless and goalless. At this stage the group's moral is Croatian: you may lose your opener, even by four goals to two — just lose nothing after it.

Group L

Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
England	3	2	1	0	+4	7
Croatia	3	2	0	1	+0	6
Ghana	3	1	1	1	+0	4
Panama	3	0	0	3	-4	0

Top two (above the accent line) advance to the round of 32; the third-placed team is in the race for one of the eight best-third spots.

What we know now

What I said beforehand

The preview, frozen at kickoff. Clearly dated, never rewritten — that's the deal that makes the predictions worth anything.

Croatia to win the game they have to win. Zlatko Dalić's side sit third on three points and almost certainly must beat Ghana to reach the last 32, while Ghana (four points) can likely advance with a draw. Croatia carry the greater attacking quality — Luka Modrić pulling the strings, Andrej Kramarić and Ivan Perišić providing the threat — and the urgency of a must-win game. Ghana's miserly defence, which has conceded just once, makes this awkward, but Croatia's need and class should edge it in Philadelphia. 2-1 Croatia.

Both cases written 2026-06-26, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 28% belongs to the draw.