Croatia finished second in Group L after beating Ghana 2-1 in Philadelphia.
Zlatko Dalic’s side will play Group K runners-up – currently Portugal – in Toronto on Friday July 3, while third-placed Ghana will know their opponents on Sunday morning.
This result also confirmed Scotland’s exit from the World Cup.
Both teams knew that a draw would be enough to safely progress to the knockout stages – and the process got off to a sour start, to say the least.
In fact, in the opening 15 minutes, neither side attempted a shot or touched the opposition box. It took another two minutes for the first, when Croatia’s Nikola Vlasic’s effort bounced wide of the left post.
Ghana successfully used a defense-first approach in their draw with England in midweek, but conceded their first goal of the tournament after half an hour. Petar Sucic got the ball in an acre, about 35 yards out, took a touch and fired a daisy-cutter into the bottom left corner.
As England drew 0-0 with Panama at the time, Zlatko Dalic’s side progressed as group winners.
But Jude Bellingham’s first goal – which put the Three Lions on the way to a 2-0 win – saw them drop to second place, and they moved back to third when Derrick Luckassen – Netherlands striker Brian Brobbey – headed in an equalizer 17 minutes from time, which was upheld following a lengthy VAR review.
Croatia, however, managed to finish behind England after Vlasic swung from his marker and flicked Luka Modric’s exiting corner inside the left post.
Important moments in Philadelphia…
- 17: POSTED CLOSED! With the first shot of the match, Croatia’s Nikola Vlasic hit a straight left-hander outside.
- 31: GOAL! Petar Sucic hits the opener from 30 yards or more to put Croatia ahead
- 40: CLOSE! Man City’s Antoine Semenyo hit Ghana’s first shot across the face of the goal and past the far post
- 73: GOAL! Ghana’s Derrick Luckassen ranks. After a lengthy VAR review to check for possible foul play by Kwasi Sibo, the goal stood
- 83: GOAL! Vlasic headed in Luka Modric’s corner to restore Croatia’s lead
What does the result mean…
Analysis: Modric continues to make history
Luka Modric becomes the oldest player in history to give a World Cup assist
Sky Sports’ Dan Long:
Luka Modric turns 41 in September and the 2026 World Cup is rumored to be the pinnacle of his illustrious career before he announces his retirement. Whether or not that happens remains to be seen but, for now, he continues to make history.
Starting against Ghana in Philadelphia, he made his 22nd World Cup appearance, surpassing Diego Maradona and drawing him to Manuel Neuer’s level. Before him? Only Lionel Messi (28), Lothar Matthaus (25), Miroslav Klose and Cristiano Ronaldo (both 24), and Paolo Maldini (23). A truly reputable company.
And at 40 years and 291 days old, in setting up the winner Nikolas Vlasic, Modric became the oldest player in history (since 1966) to provide an assist in the World Cup.
It seems unlikely that Zlatko Dalic’s side can do the same in the last two tournaments, when they finished second in 2018 and third in 2022, but the evergreen Modric will be determined to come out on top – if this is to be the end.
