Luka Modric grew to become the oldest participant to report an help at a World Cup as Croatia beat Ghana 2-1 to complete second in Group L.
Deryk Lucassen canceled out Croatia’s Petar Sučić’s opener, and Nikola Vlasic headed Modric’s nook kick with seven minutes remaining, permitting Zlatko Dalic’s facet to leapfrog their opponents into second place, whereas Ghana completed the group stage in third place.
Neither staff had a shot within the opening quarter-hour, however Croatia began to step up a gear, with Vlasic hitting the left submit with a long-range shot and Ivan Perisic’s header comfortably saved by Benjamin Asare.
The breakthrough lastly got here after the half-hour mark with Susic, who fired into the underside left nook from exterior the field following some intelligent motion from Mateo Kovacic.
Ghana’s solely shot within the first half was Antoine Semenyo’s shot from an angle that went simply vast of the submit, and after the break Abdul Fatau’s long-range shot went over the bar.
Nevertheless, the Black Stars took management after the break and leveled the rating within the 73rd minute from Ernesto Nuama’s very good free kick, which Lucassen side-footed previous Dominik Livaković.
Croatia appeared to have woken up with the equalizer, however Mario Pasalic noticed Asare’s highly effective shot go over the bar, however Vlasic headed within the nook from the nook to take all three factors.
There it’s! #Croatia advances to the second spherical of the @FIFAWorldCup with a win over @GhanaBlackstars! #Kroga #WorldCup | #Pokajisauce | #Hrababloj | #Household | #Vatoreni pic.twitter.com/C1b96lQlPp
— HNS (@HNS_CFF) June 27, 2026
Please delete Croatia at your individual threat.
Regardless of ending second and third respectively within the final two World Cups, Croatia have been thought of a staff previous their greatest, particularly after dropping their first recreation in opposition to England this 12 months.
Nevertheless, as time and time once more, Croatia proved they aren’t to be taken flippantly, bouncing again from the loss to the Three Lions with back-to-back wins to safe second place within the group.
Not rather more must be stated about Modric. At 40 years and 291 days outdated, Modric made historical past by making a game-high 4 possibilities whereas recording essentially the most touches (102) and correct passes with assists (82).
The Como midfielder did a lot of the soiled work as he received essentially the most duels of any Croatian participant (eight), received the ball again essentially the most usually as a staff (six) and drew essentially the most fouls (5).
Because it stands, Croatia is scheduled to play Portugal within the final 32, whereas Ghana, who misplaced however secured a spot within the match, will play Colombia, however relying on the results of the next match between Portugal and Colombia, there’s a risk that their opponents could also be modified.
