Croatia vs Ghana – Match preview and team news | OneFootball

Group L’s final reckoning arrives at Philadelphia Stadium on Saturday evening, with Croatia needing a win to guarantee their place in the round of 32 and Ghana requiring just a point to confirm second place.

The Black Stars sit second on four points, level with England on goal difference. A draw advances them automatically as one of the group’s top two. Defeat could still be survivable depending on results elsewhere, but Carlos Queiroz will not want to leave anything to chance.

Croatia’s position is starker. Three points from their 1–0 win over Panama leave Zlatko Dalic’s side knowing that only a win suffices — a draw keeps them third and at the mercy of third-place comparisons. Victory, should England simultaneously drop points against Panama, could even send Croatia top of the group. The two nations meet at a World Cup for the first time.

Croatia vs Ghana – Match preview and team news

Team news

Croatia

Dalic has a fully fit squad and faces a clear attacking dilemma. Ante Budimir came off the bench to score the decisive goal against Panama and has made an overwhelming case to start from the beginning here. Petar Musa, who started up front against Panama before being replaced at half-time, is likely to make way.

Josko Gvardiol was also substituted at the interval in that game, but retains his place at left back — his physicality will be needed to contain Ghana’s wide players. The rest of the XI is expected to be unchanged, with Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic in the double pivot and Martin Baturina operating in the number ten position.

Ghana

Lawrence Ati-Zigi has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with the groin injury he sustained in the opening win over Panama. Benjamin Asare, who kept a clean sheet against England in a composed and assured display, retains the gloves.

Caleb Yirenkyi and Inaki Williams carry yellow cards into this fixture and must exercise caution to avoid suspension. Thomas Partey is confirmed fit and continues as the single midfield pivot. The rest of the XI that frustrated England for 90 minutes is expected to remain unchanged.

Form

Croatia

Dalic’s side have been inconsistent throughout this tournament and their build-up to it, conceding in seven straight matches before the Panama clean sheet. The 4–2 opening loss to England exposed their defensive fragility starkly. That said, the 1–0 win over Panama — sealed by Budimir’s 54th-minute finish — demonstrated resilience when it mattered.

Croatia faced more shots than they created in that game, but kept their composure under pressure. Luka Modric, now into his 201st international cap at 40 years old, remains their creative heartbeat. The squad contains genuine quality across Premier League and Serie A, though translating that into cohesive attacking play has been the persistent challenge.

Ghana

Queiroz has been one of the tournament’s more impressive tactical operators. Ghana beat Panama 1–0 on matchday one then produced one of the group stage’s more remarkable defensive performances to hold England goalless, withstanding 78.8% possession and emerging with a point that sent Queiroz’s players into near-celebration.

They have not conceded a single goal at this World Cup and are one of only four teams with a clean sheet record intact. The counter-attacking combination of Antoine Semenyo and Inaki Williams provides pace and directness whenever Ghana do transition forward, though the Black Stars are yet to register a shot on target in the first half of either match.

Predicted lineups

Croatia predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Livakovic; Stanisic, Pongracic, Sutalo, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Modric; Pasalic, Baturina, Perisic; Budimir

Ghana predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Asare; Senaya, Adjetey, Opoku, Mensah; Partey; Williams, Sibo, Yirenkyi, Semenyo; Ayew

How to watch Croatia vs Ghana?

The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on ITV4 and ITVX.

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