Croatia beat Ghana 2-1 in the final round of Group L at the 2026 FIFA World Cup to finish second in the group and reach the last 32. In a contest that stayed competitive until the very end at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Croatia took three points through a late Nikola Vlašić goal.
Croatia made a positive start and went ahead in the 31st minute. Petar Sučić, a surprise inclusion in the starting XI, turned home Mateo Kovačić's assist to make it 1-0. Croatia took that lead into the break, having had the better of the first half.
With the game evened out by Carlos Queiroz's changes after the restart, Ghana found their equalizer. In the 73rd minute, Derrick Luckassen converted from a chance created by Ernest Nuamah to make it 1-1 and give the visitors hope.
Looking to regain control after the leveler, Croatia found their goal in the 83rd minute. This time the man to step up was captain Luka Modrić, on his 201st cap. Nikola Vlašić met the veteran's assist to put his team 2-1 ahead and decide the match. Croatia held their advantage through the closing stages to take the win.
The statistics show how closely fought the match was. Croatia led possession with 53% and the shot count 8-6. Yet in expected goals (xG), the figures read 0.73 to 0.46 in Ghana's favor, and Ghana also led the big-chance count 2-0. In short, Ghana created the sharper openings but could not take them, while Croatia made their few chances count.
After the match, officiated by Canada's Drew Fischer, Croatia finished second in Group L behind table-toppers England and advanced to the last 32. The 2018 finalists reached their goal with their efficiency at the crucial moment.
Despite the defeat, Ghana stayed on four points and finished third in the group; they were not eliminated, and with their hopes still alive among the best third-placed teams, their fate rests on results in other groups. Had Carlos Queiroz's side taken their chances, they might have left with a different result.
Image: Yahoo Sports
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