Croatia edge Ghana to book a tie with Portugal

Croatia secured second place in Group L with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Ghana at Lincoln Financial Field, a late header settling a tense contest. Goals from Luka Sucic and Nikola Vlasic carried the 2018 finalists through to the knockout rounds, where a meeting with Portugal awaits. Ghana, despite the defeat, did enough across the group to claim third place and a best-third-placed berth of their own. It was a typically resilient Croatian performance — patient, experienced and clinical at the key moments — as Zlatko Dalic's side found a way past a determined Ghanaian outfit.

Match summary: Sucic opens, Vlasic settles it late

Croatia took the lead on 31 minutes when Luka Sucic finished well, and they controlled long spells with their familiar midfield craft. Ghana refused to fold and drew level on 73 minutes through Luckassen, a goal that survived a VAR check — a marginal Partey offside in the build-up was deemed not to have interfered with play. The drama peaked on 83 minutes when Nikola Vlasic rose to head home the winner, restoring Croatia's advantage and breaking Ghanaian hearts. The visitors pushed late but could not find a second equaliser, and Croatia saw out a valuable victory.

Experience tells for the 2018 finalists

Croatia's enduring quality lies in their composure and know-how, and both were on show here. Sucic's emergence and Vlasic's decisive header underlined a blend of youth and experience that has served them well, and reaching the knockout rounds keeps alive the ambitions of a golden generation chasing one more deep run. Ghana, for their part, can hold their heads high: a competitive campaign, a goal that briefly threatened an upset, and a best-third finish that keeps them in the tournament. The VAR call on their equaliser will be debated, but it did not ultimately cost them their place.

Group L shape: Croatia second, into a heavyweight tie

The win lifted Croatia to six points and second in Group L behind England, setting up a Round of 32 clash with Portugal — a meeting of two sides with deep tournament pedigree. Ghana finished third on four points and advance among the best third-placed teams to face Colombia, while Panama ended bottom and are eliminated. Croatia will fancy their chances against anyone on their day; the tie with Portugal promises a tactical, finely-balanced encounter between two nations who know exactly what knockout football demands.