Modrić masterclass guides Croatia past Ghana in World Cup thriller

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·27 giugno 2026

Modrić masterclass guides Croatia past Ghana in World Cup thriller

Croatia secured second place in Group L with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Ghana at Philadelphia Stadium. Petar Sučić broke the deadlock with a powerful strike from distance in the 31st minute, but Derrick Luckassen equalised for Ghana at 73' after a VAR review confirmed his finish from Ernest Nuamah's delivery.

The decisive moment came when Nikola Vlašić headed home Luka Modrić's corner in the 83rd minute, the ball clipping the post before crossing the line. Croatia advance to the knockout rounds alongside group winners England, while Ghana also progress as third-place finishers. GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Croatia v Ghana.

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Winners

Luka Modrić (Croatia)

At 40 years old, Modrić delivered the assist that decided this Group L decider. His perfectly weighted corner found Vlašić unmarked in the 83rd minute, restoring Croatia's lead just ten minutes after Ghana had drawn level. It was the defining contribution in a match that needed veteran composure.

Modrić controlled the midfield tempo throughout, dictating Croatia's rhythm with incisive passing and clever switches of play that stretched Ghana's compact shape. His set-piece delivery caused problems all evening, creating earlier headed opportunities for Pongracic and Perišić before the decisive corner.

When Ghana pushed for a late equaliser, Modrić contributed defensively with tackles and interceptions in the closing stages. Playing the full 90 minutes without substitution, he demonstrated why Croatia continue to build their tournament hopes around him despite his age.

Petar Sučić (Croatia)

Sučić's thunderous right-footed strike from outside the box gave Croatia the breakthrough they needed in the 31st minute. The shot clipped the inside of the post before nestling in the bottom corner, breaking Ghana's resistance after they had kept clean sheets in their opening two matches.

Beyond the goal, Sučić contributed significantly to both phases of play. His pressing high up the pitch helped win possession in dangerous areas, while he also dropped deep to offer passing options during Croatia's patient buildup. He drew fouls in threatening positions throughout.

Sučić played the full match and remained effective defensively when Ghana pushed late. His opening goal proved crucial to the final result, giving Croatia the platform from which they could respond after conceding the equaliser.

Loser

Elisha Owusu (Ghana)

Owusu's difficult first half ended at the interval when Carlos Queiroz withdrew him for Issahaku Fatawu. His struggles in midfield contributed to Croatia's opening goal, losing possession in a dangerous area during a pressing sequence that led directly to Sučić's strike.

While Owusu showed isolated moments of quality, including a nice dribble past Modrić, these were overshadowed by his errors in possession. His difficulties disrupted Ghana's midfield balance and prevented them from establishing any sustained control against Croatia's experienced central pairing.

The halftime substitution signalled the coaching staff's verdict on his performance. Ghana's second-half improvement, which yielded the equaliser through Luckassen, came only after Owusu had been replaced, leaving his contribution as a significant negative in Ghana's ultimately unsuccessful effort.