Croatia secured second place in Group L after beating Ghana 2-1 in Philadelphia.
Zlatko Dalic’s team will be playing. Portugal On Friday July 3rd in Toronto, third place Ghana Colombia.
The result also confirmed Scotland’s elimination from the World Cup.
Both teams knew that a draw would be enough to safely advance to the knockout stages, and proceedings began in tepid fashion, to say the least.
In fact, in the opening 15 minutes, neither team attempted a shot or attempted a touch inside the opponent’s box. Two more minutes went into the first when Croatia’s Nikola Vlasic’s shot grazed the outside of the left post.
Ghana’s Derrick Luckassen (center)
Ghana successfully implemented a defense-first approach in their midweek draw with England, but conceded their first goal of the tournament just after the half-hour. Petar Sucic received the ball in wide space about 35 yards out, took a touch and fired a daisy cutter into the bottom left corner.
At that time, England drew 0-0 with Panama, and the team led by Zlatko Dalic won the group stage.
But Jude Bellingham’s opener gave the Three Lions a 2-0 win and dropped them to second and third when Derrick Luckassen, brother of Dutch forward Brian Brobbey, equalized after 17 minutes. This was confirmed following a lengthy VAR review.
But Croatia finished behind England after Vlasic headed a Luka Modric corner that curled wide of his marker and out of the inside of the left post.
Big moments in Philadelphia…
- 17: post off! Croatia’s Nikola Vlasic hits the outside of the upright left hand with the first shot of the game.
- 31: target! Petar Suchic hit the opener from more than 30 yards to put Croatia ahead.
- 40: close! Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo fired Ghana’s first shot across the face of goal and past the far post.
- 73: target! Ghana’s Derrick Luckassen levels. The goal remained intact following a lengthy VAR review to investigate a potential foul on Kwasi Sibo.
- 83: target! Vlasic headed in Luka Modric’s outswinging corner to restore Croatia’s lead.
What the results mean…
Analysis: Modric continues to make history
Luka Modric has become the oldest player on record to provide a World Cup assist.
Sky Sports’ Dan Long:
Luka Modric turns 41 in September and it is rumored that the 2026 World Cup could be the swansong for his illustrious career before he announces his retirement. Whether that will happen or not is yet to be seen, but in the meantime, he continues to make history.
Against Ghana in Philadelphia, he made his 22nd World Cup appearance, surpassing Diego Maradona and leveling with Manuel Neuer. Before that? There are only Lionel Messi (28), Lothar Matheus (25), Miroslav Klose and Cristiano Ronaldo (both 24), and Paolo Maldini (23). This is a truly respected company.
And at the age of 40 years and 291 days, Modric, who beat Nikolas Vlasic to the title, became the oldest player on record to provide a World Cup assist since 1966.
It is unlikely that Zlatko Dalic’s side will be able to replicate their feats in the last two tournaments, when they finished runners-up in 2018 and third in 2022, but ever-newbie Modric will be determined to go all the way to the top if this is the end.
