Croatia vs Ghana, Worldcup 2026 GROUP STAGE
Overview
Match Preview
Match Details
- Referee Drew Fischer
- Assistant 1 Michael Barwegen (USA)
- Assistant 2 Lyes Arfa
24 games this season
🟨 2.9/game
⚽ 10.8 goals/game
🟥 2 total
Standings
| # | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 3 | 9 |
| 2 | South Africa | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | South Korea | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Czechia | 3 | 1 |
| 5 | Switzerland | 3 | 7 |
| 6 | Canada | 3 | 4 |
| 7 | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 3 | 4 |
| 8 | Qatar | 3 | 1 |
| 9 | Brazil | 3 | 7 |
| 10 | Morocco | 3 | 7 |
| 11 | Scotland | 3 | 3 |
| 12 | Haiti | 3 | 0 |
| 13 | United States | 3 | 6 |
| 14 | Australia | 3 | 4 |
| 15 | Paraguay | 3 | 4 |
| 16 | Turkey | 3 | 3 |
| 17 | Germany | 3 | 6 |
| 18 | Ivory Coast | 3 | 6 |
| 19 | Ecuador | 3 | 4 |
| 20 | Curacao | 3 | 1 |
| 21 | Netherlands | 3 | 7 |
| 22 | Japan | 3 | 5 |
| 23 | Sweden | 3 | 4 |
| 24 | Tunisia | 3 | 0 |
| 25 | Belgium | 3 | 5 |
| 26 | Egypt | 3 | 5 |
| 27 | Iran | 3 | 3 |
| 28 | New Zealand | 3 | 1 |
| 29 | Spain | 3 | 7 |
| 30 | Cape Verde Islands | 3 | 3 |
| 31 | Uruguay | 3 | 2 |
| 32 | Saudi Arabia | 3 | 2 |
| 33 | France | 3 | 9 |
| 34 | Norway | 3 | 6 |
| 35 | Senegal | 3 | 3 |
| 36 | Iraq | 3 | 0 |
| 37 | Argentina | 3 | 9 |
| 38 | Austria | 3 | 4 |
| 39 | Algeria | 3 | 4 |
| 40 | Jordan | 3 | 0 |
| 41 | Colombia | 3 | 7 |
| 42 | Portugal | 3 | 5 |
| 43 | Congo DR | 3 | 4 |
| 44 | Uzbekistan | 3 | 0 |
| 45 | England | 3 | 7 |
| 46 | Croatia | 3 | 6 |
| 47 | Ghana | 3 | 4 |
| 48 | Panama | 3 | 0 |
Head-to-Head
Last 5 meetings
Recent Form
Season Stats
| Croatia | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| #46 | Position | #47 |
| 6 | Points | 4 |
| 3 | Played | 3 |
| 2 / 0 / 1 | W / D / L | 1 / 1 / 1 |
| 5 | Scored | 2 |
| 5 | Conceded | 2 |
| +0 | GD | +0 |
| 2.00 | PPG | 1.33 |
| 67% | Win % | 33% |
Key Stats
100%
Both Teams to Score
H2H (1 games)
H2H (1 games)
100%
Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
H2H history
25%
Clean Sheets
Croatia this season
Croatia this season
50%
Clean Sheets
Ghana this season
Ghana this season
Croatia are 46th (6 pts). Ghana are 47th (4 pts).
Goal Timing (This Season)
Croatia
0-15
–/1
16-30
–/–
31-45
3/1
46-60
2/1
61-75
–/2
76+
1/2
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Ghana
0-15
–/1
16-30
–/–
31-45
–/1
46-60
–/–
61-75
1/–
76+
1/1
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Events
Match Events
- 0' Packed stands, loud atmosphere — Croatia and Ghana get this one started.
- 5' Croatia started playing very sharply right from the kick off. However, it slowed down the tempo rapidly by 5.
- 10' The energy levels are beginning to show. Zlatko Dalić might look to freshen things up shortly.
- 15' We miss some good tackles and strikes. Is there anyone on the field to put the game back to action?
- 20' Over 20 minutes have gone by without a meaningful attack. The supporters want more.
- 25' Caleb Yirenkyi is putting in a real shift tonight. He has covered more ground than anyone else for Ghana so far.
- 30' Although teams showed high tempo form the start, they seem to slow down a bit. Both sides really need to catch a fire. Otherwise, we have another goalless match.
- 31' GOAL! Petar Sucic fires home to make it 1-0!
- 36' We are waiting for someone to take the initiative. Who will be the first to commit to attack?
- 41' It is a cagey affair so far. Croatia in their 4-2-3-1 trying to find a way past Ghana's compact 4-1-2-3.
- 46' Kojo Peprah Oppong is ready to make an impact after coming on for Jonas Adjei Adjetey at the 46 minute mark.
- 51' It looks like no one’s ball. Ghana is used to counterattacking playing. None of the sides are ready to take the lead.
- 56' Both keepers have barely been tested. Croatia and Ghana are cancelling each other out in the centre of the park.
- 61' Supporters expect more eagerness from Mateo Kovacic, as he is very good at scoring at Lincoln Financial Field with 0 goals in the last 0 games.
- 66' Croatia seems to be on a short break. The game is mainly concentrated in the center. It’s high time they got back to action. Otherwise, it looks like a goalless game.
- 67' Croatia ring the changes. Ante Budimir has done his job and it is now time for Igor Matanovic to step up.
- 68' It’s a booking for Croatia player. Ivan Perisic gets a card.
- 72' Brandon Thomas-Asante is replacing Jordan Ayew for the Ghana side.
- 73' Goal! Derrick Luckassen scores his 1 goal in 476 matches.
- 78' Another change for Croatia made on 78 minute. Mateo Kovacic leaves to be changed by Marco Pasalic.
- 83' Brilliant from the ! Nikola Vlasic makes it 2-1 with a superb finish on 83.
- 85' The crowd applauds Kwasi Sibo as he leaves the pitch. Caleb Yirenkyi steps in for Ghana.
- 88' A change in the Croatia ranks — Martin Baturina exits the field as Marco Pasalic enters on 88.
- 90' Controversy at the stadium! Kojo Peprah Oppong argues furiously but the card stands.
- What a match! Full time at {STADIUM} — Croatia 2-1 Ghana.
Lineups
Croatia Lineups
4-2-3-1Starting XI
-
8
Mateo Kovacic ↓ Mario Pasalic 78'
- 10
-
11
Ante Budimir ↓ Igor Matanovic 67'
- 14
- 1
- 3
-
13
Nikola Vlasic ↓ Josko Gvardiol 88'
- 6
- 17
- 2
-
16
Martin Baturina ↓ Marco Pasalic 88'
Bench
- 23
- 5
- 9
-
15
Mario Pasalic ↑ 78'
- 25
- 12
- 7
-
4
Josko Gvardiol ↑ 88'
- 26
- 18
- 21
-
20
Igor Matanovic ↑ 67'
-
24
Marco Pasalic ↑ 88'
- 22
- 19
Coach
Zlatko Dalić
Ghana Lineups
4-1-2-3Starting XI
- 16
- 4
- 23
- 14
- 26
-
15
Elisha Owusu ↓ Abdul Issahaku 46'
- 5
-
8
Kwasi Sibo ↓ Caleb Yirenkyi 85'
- 9
- 11
- 22
Bench
- 12
- 1
- 17
- 6
- 18
-
21
Kojo Peprah Oppong ↑ 46'
- 2
-
3
Caleb Yirenkyi ↑ 85'
- 25
- 13
-
7
Abdul Issahaku ↑ 46'
- 19
-
24
Ernest Nuamah ↑ 72'
-
10
Brandon Thomas-Asante ↑ 72'
Coach
Carlos Queiroz
H2H
H2H Top Scorers
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Nikola Vlasic | 1 |
| Petar Sucic | 1 |
| Derrick Luckassen | 1 |
Head to Head
Croatia Form
Predictions
Prediction accuracy
1 / 4
1.35
Croatia xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
0.96
Ghana xG
I would bet for:
Under 2.5 goals 60%
Match Result
✓ CorrectActual: Croatia win
Both Teams to Score
✗ Wrong
Avg goals/match: 2.31
Actual: Yes — both scored
Over / Under Goals
✗ O/U 2.5| Line | Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ± 0.5 | 88% |
|
12% |
| ± 1.5 | 67% |
|
33% |
| ± 2.5 | 40% |
|
60% |
| ± 3.5 | 21% |
|
79% |
| ± 4.5 | 9% |
|
91% |
Double Chance
Croatia or Draw
76%
Draw or Ghana
53%
Croatia or Ghana
72%
Half-Time Result
✗ WrongActual: Croatia win at HT
Correct Score
✓ In top 12
1 – 1
13.8%
1 – 0
12.3%
0 – 0
12.1%
2 – 0
8.8%
2 – 1
Actual
0 – 1
8.3%
1 – 2
5.9%
0 – 2
4.4%
2 – 2
4.1%
3 – 0
3.9%
3 – 1
3.8%
3 – 2
2%
Asian Handicap — Croatia
| Handicap | Croatia covers | Push | Ghana covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| -2.5 | 8% | — | 92% |
| -2 | 8% | 13% | 79% |
| -1.5 | 21% | — | 79% |
| -1 | 21% | 23% | 56% |
| -0.5 | 44% | — | 56% |
| +0.5 | 75% | — | 25% |
| +1 | 75% | 16% | 9% |
| +1.5 | 91% | — | 9% |
| +2 | 91% | 7% | 2% |
| +2.5 | 98% | — | 2% |
Clean Sheet
Croatia keeps clean sheet
39%
✓
Ghana keeps clean sheet
27%
✓
Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.