Croatia vs Ghana - prediction, team news, lineups

Separated by conscionable 1 spot and 1 constituent successful the World Cup 2026 Group L standings, Croatia and Ghana bash conflict successful a winner-takes-all brushwood astatine Lincoln Financial Field connected Saturday.

The Black Stars volition guarantee a last-32 spot if they debar defeat, but thing but 3 points volition bash for the Chequered Ones if they bash not privation to endure a tense third-placed wait.

Match preview

Another Croatia match, different milestone for Luka Modric, who celebrated his 200th quality for his federation successful the champion mode imaginable; 3 points for the squad astatine the World Cup.

Battening down the hatches aft conceding 4 to England archetypal up, Croatia really faced much shots against Panama than they fashioned - firing six connected extremity compared to the Canal Men's 8 - but Ante Budimir's infinitesimal of ruthlessness successful the 2nd fractional proved pivotal.

Croatia's 1-0 triumph implicit Panama some eliminated the group's basement broadside and near the Chequered Ones' destiny successful their ain hands erstwhile it comes to knockout progression, arsenic triumph connected Saturday volition corroborate a second-placed decorativeness astatine the precise worst and could adjacent instrumentality them apical if England shockingly driblet points against Panama.

However, a gully volition not suffice for Zlatko Dalic's charges, arsenic they would inactive beryllium down Ghana connected axenic points and down England connected head-to-head points, but Croatia person astatine slightest unopen up store astatine the perfect time.

The 2018 runners-up had conceded successful 7 consecutive games - including against the Faroe Islands and Montenegro - earlier keeping Panama astatine bay, but they are yet to triumph back-to-back matches successful 2026.

Coincidentally, Ghana's quest for consecutive World Cup wins has continued aft their 0-0 gully with England connected Tuesday, but the Black Stars understandably celebrated that stalemate arsenic if they had gained 2 much points.

Despite giving up 78.8% of the shot to Thomas Tuchel's side, Ghana's dogged defending - hailed arsenic immoderate of the champion helium had ever seen by the England manager - came to the fore, and they could consciousness aggrieved astatine not being awarded a spot footwear erstwhile Ezri Konsa went flying successful connected Prince Kwabena Adu.

Still lone trailing England connected extremity difference, Ghana tin erstwhile again spend to play for a gully and beforehand to the World Cup knockouts, a signifier they person not reached since their historical tally to the quarter-finals successful 2010.

However, Carlos Queiroz's broadside could beryllium made to wage for dilatory starts, arsenic they are yet to person a changeable connected people successful the archetypal fractional of a World Cup lucifer this twelvemonth - precisely the benignant of accusation to see erstwhile perusing our World Cup betting guide.

Failure to instrumentality each 3 points against England means that Ghana boast conscionable 1 triumph from their past six matches to boot, though a 3rd stalemate from 4 is each that is required from their first-ever gathering with the 2018 finalists.

Croatia World Cup form:

Croatia signifier (all competitions):

Ghana World Cup form:

Ghana signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Croatia erstwhile again boast a fully-fit squad for matchday three, but Dalic has a captious enactment dilemma to lick up beforehand aft Budimir's victor disconnected the seat against Panama, wherever helium replaced Petar Musa astatine fractional time.

Musa and Josko Gvardiol - amazingly disconnected the gait against Panama - were some taken disconnected during the interruption past clip out, but determination is small accidental of the second losing his spot successful the starting XI.

While incapable to replicate his cracking onslaught against England, tricky lawsuit Martin Baturina completed six dribbles and won 7 fouls against Panama, the archetypal subordinate to grounds those totals successful a World Cup crippled since Diego Maradona successful 1982.

As acold arsenic Ghana are concerned, Queiroz was forced into a alteration successful betwixt the sticks against England, arsenic Lawrence Ati Zigi was declared unfit owing to the musculus wounded helium picked up against Panama archetypal up.

In his place, Benjamin Asare played a starring relation connected Wednesday with 3 important saves, and the Hearts of Oak shot-stopper should person done capable to clasp his spot careless of Ati Zigi's condition.

Adu the substitute was past substituted himself successful midweek, though that appeared to beryllium a tactical alteration alternatively than an enforced 1 from Queiroz, who is expected to person each of his outfield options available.

Croatia imaginable starting lineup:

Livakovic; Stanisic, Pongracic, Sutalo, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Modric; Baturina, Pasalic, Perisic; Budimir

Ghana imaginable starting lineup:

Asare; Senaya, Adjetey, Opoku, Mensah; Yirenkyi, Partey, Sibo; Williams, Ayew, Semenyo

We say: Croatia 1-0 Ghana

Ghana tin employment the aforesaid attack they utilized to terrific effect against England, though they whitethorn travel nether much unit against a Croatia squad who indispensable spell gung-ho for the maximum.

Given the Black Stars' deficiency of wound successful the last 3rd truthful far, if Croatia tin find a mode through, Dalic's men person our backing to leapfrog Queiroz's broadside successful the standings and grace the past 32 with their presence.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.