Croatia sealed their spot as Group L runners-up after a 2-1 win over Ghana in Philadelphia.
Zlatko Dalic’s facet will play the Group Okay runners-up – at the moment Portugal – in Toronto on Friday July 3, whereas third-place Ghana will know their opponents by the early hours of Sunday morning.
The end result additionally confirmed Scotland’s exit from the World Cup.
Each groups knew a draw could be sufficient to safe protected passage to the knockout phases – and proceedings began in tepid trend, to say the least.
In truth, throughout the opening quarter-hour, neither facet tried a shot or had a contact within the opposition field. It took one other two minutes for the primary, when an effort from Croatia’s Nikola Vlasic skimmed the skin of the left-hand submit.
Ghana had efficiently applied a defence-first method through the midweek draw with England, however they conceded their first aim of the match simply after the half-hour. Petar Sucic obtained the ball in acres of house, round 35 yards out, took a contact and arrowed a daisy-cutter into the bottom-left nook.
With England drawing 0-0 with Panama at that time, Zlatko Dalic’s facet have been advancing as group winners.
However Jude Bellingham’s opener – which put the Three Lions heading in the right direction for an eventual 2-0 win – noticed them drop to second, they usually slipped to 3rd when Derrick Luckassen – brother of Netherlands ahead Brian Brobbey – guided in an equaliser 17 minutes from time, which was confirmed following a prolonged VAR assessment.
Croatia, although, did handle to complete behind England after Vlasic drifted away from his marker to move an outswinging Luka Modric nook in through the within of the left-hand submit.
The important thing moments in Philadelphia…
- 17: OFF THE POST! With the primary shot of the sport, Croatia’s Nikola Vlasic hits the skin of the left-hand upright
- 31: GOAL! Petar Sucic hits the opener from 30 yards or extra to place Croatia in entrance
- 40: CLOSE! Man Metropolis’s Antoine Semenyo hits the primary shot for Ghana throughout the face of aim and previous the far submit
- 73: GOAL! Derrick Luckassen ranges for Ghana. After a prolonged VAR assessment to look at a possible foul by Kwasi Sibo, the aim stands
- 83: GOAL! Vlasic heads in Luka Modric’s outswinging nook to revive Croatia’s lead
What the end result means…
Evaluation: Modric continues to make historical past
Luka Modric turn out to be the oldest participant on report to supply a World Cup help
Sky Sports activities’ Dan Lengthy:
Luka Modric turns 41 in September and there are rumours the 2026 World Cup would be the swansong to his glittering profession earlier than he broadcasts his retirement. Whether or not that occurs or not stays to be seen however, within the meantime, he’s persevering with to make historical past.
In beginning in opposition to Ghana in Philadelphia, he made his twenty second World Cup look, which moved him above Diego Maradona and drew him stage with Manuel Neuer. Forward of him? Solely Lionel Messi (28), Lothar Matthaus (25), Miroslav Klose and Cristiano Ronaldo (each 24), and Paolo Maldini (23). Esteemed firm certainly.
And at 40 years and 291 days outdated, in establishing Nikolas Vlasic’s winner, Modric grew to become the oldest participant on report (since 1966) to supply a World Cup help.
It appears unlikely Zlatko Dalic’s facet will likely be able to replicating their feats on the final two tournaments, after they completed as runners-up in 2018 and in third place in 2022, however the evergreen Modric will likely be decided to exit on a excessive – if that is to be the tip.
