Croatia sealed their place as Group L runners-up with a 2-1 win over Ghana in Philadelphia.
Zlatko Dalic’s side will play the Group K runners-up – currently Portugal – in Toronto on Friday, July 3, while third-placed Ghana will find out their opponents in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The result also confirmed Scotland’s exit from the World Cup.
Both teams knew a draw would be enough to secure passage to the knockout stages – and proceedings got off to a light-hearted start, to say the least.
In fact, during the opening 15 minutes, neither side attempted a shot nor had a touch in the opposition box. It took two more minutes for the first, when an effort from Croatia’s Nikola Vlasic skimmed wide of the left-hand post.
Ghana successfully implemented a defence-first approach during their midweek draw with England, but they conceded their first goal of the tournament after half an hour. Petar Sucic received the ball in acres of space, about 35 yards out, took one touch and arrowed a daisy cutter into the bottom left corner.
After England’s 0-0 draw with Panama at the time, Zlatko Dalic’s side were progressing as group winners.
But Jude Bellingham’s opener – which put the Three Lions on their way to a 2-0 win – saw them drop to second, and they slipped to third when Derrick Lucassen, brother of Netherlands forward Brian Brobbey, headed in an equaliser 17 minutes from time, which was upheld after a lengthy VAR review.
Croatia, though, managed to put England behind when Vlasic swung away from his marker to head a Luka Modric corner past the inside of the left-hand post.
Highlights in Philadelphia…
- 17: Off the post! With the first shot of the game, Croatia’s Nikola Vlasic hit a straight outside shot with his left hand.
- 31: round! Petr Suchic hit the opener from 30 yards or more to put Croatia in front.
- 40: off! Man City’s Antony Seminyo had the first shot for Ghana in front of goal and over the far post.
- 73: round! Derrick Lakason levels in Ghana. After a lengthy VAR review to assess a possible foul by Kwasi Sibo, the goal stands.
- 83: round! Vlasic headed in Luka Modric’s outswinging corner to restore Croatia’s lead.
What does the result mean?
Analysis: Modric makes history.
Luka Modric became the oldest player on record to provide an assist at the World Cup.
Luka Modric will turn 41 in September and the 2026 World Cup is rumoured to be the swansong of his illustrious career before he announces his retirement. Whether that happens is still uncertain, but in the meantime, he is making history.
Starting against Ghana in Philadelphia, he made his 22nd World Cup appearance, moving him above Diego Maradona and level with Manuel Neuer. Next to it? Only Lionel Messi (28), Lothar Matthaus (25), Miroslav Klose and Cristiano Ronaldo (both 24), and Paolo Maldini (23) are ahead of him. Really respectable company.
At 40 years and 291 days, Luka Modric became the oldest player on record (since 1966) to provide an assist at a World Cup by setting up Nikolas Vlasic’s winner.
Zlatko Dilić’s side look set to repeat their feats from the last two tournaments, when they finished runners-up in 2018 and third in 2022, but the evergreen Modric will be determined to go higher – if that is to be the end.
