31'
Croatia · Goal · Petar Sučić
Croatia · Assist: Mateo Kovačić
Kickoff weather23°CRain6 mph · 100% precip
Group L2026-06-279:00 PM
2-1
FTPhiladelphia StadiumPhiladelphiaUnited States
Full time
Momentum
Timeline and live trends
finished
Croatia vs Ghana. Toggle one metric at a time to inspect the live shape of the match.
Possession tide
Final read CRO controlling - 53% of the ball
ControlsPossession · CRO line7 event filters
line
KO
15'
30'
HT
60'
75'
90'
45+1'
Match · Added time · +3'
46'
Ghana · Kojo Peprah Oppong on for Jonas Adjetey
46'
Ghana · Abdul Fatawu on for Elisha Owusu
66'
Croatia · Igor Matanović on for Ante Budimir
68'
Croatia · Yellow card · Ivan Perišić
71'
Ghana · Brandon Thomas-Asante on for Jordan Ayew
71'
Ghana · Ernest Nuamah on for Kamaldeen Sulemana
73'
⚽Ghana · Goal · Derrick Luckassen
Ghana · Assist: Ernest Nuamah
78'
Croatia · Mario Pašalić on for Mateo Kovačić
Croatia
83'
⚽Croatia · Goal · Nikola Vlašić
Assist: Luka Modrić
85'
Ghana · Caleb Yirenkyi on for Kwasi Sibo
88'
Croatia · Marco Pašalić on for Martin Baturina
88'
Croatia · Joško Gvardiol on for Nikola Vlašić
90+2'
Match · Added time · +7'
90+4'
Ghana · Yellow card · Kojo Peprah Oppong
16 of 98 events · one shared match clock · smoothed visual interpolationline = CRO share, mirror of GHA
Tactical board - same structure across lineup states
Final lineup
Lineup
ManagerZlatko DalicManagerCarlos Queiroz
CRO
GHA
Match lens
Story1 / 4
P1 · The head-to-head story
rating + rivalry note
The head-to-head story
Croatia enters this matchup with a significant Elo rating advantage over Ghana. While both sides show strong recent form, the tactical battle hinges on whether Ghana can exploit the channels behind Croatia's full-backs during transition phases. Croatia will look to control the tempo through midfield possession to neutralize Ghana's counter-attacking threat.
Favourite read · tournament history · rivalry
Who's the favourite?
CROFavourite
1896GHAChallenger
1584How far each has gone
Tournament history · deepest stage reached per tournament
GroupRound of 16Quarter-finalSemi-finalFinalTBD
The rivalry
No direct scored meetings in the current historical sample.
P2 · What kind of game
set pieces gap
What kind of game?
Croatia and Ghana present contrasting tactical profiles defined by a significant set-piece reliance gap. While Croatia maintains superior possession and a higher threat profile, Ghana leans more heavily on set-piece opportunities to generate their offense. This disparity suggests a match where Croatia will likely control the tempo, forcing Ghana to capitalize on dead-ball situations to remain competitive.
Style match-up · bigger shape means more of that trait
CROGHA
| Axis | CRO | GHA |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 63.6% | 53.4% |
| Defending | 4.6 resistance | 3.8 resistance |
| Set pieces | 25.2% | 35.7% |
| Threat | 1.06 xG/match | 0.59 xG/match |
P3 · Where it'll be decided
channel pressure
Where it'll be decided
The central corridor remains the primary tactical focus for both sides. While Croatia shows a potential avenue to exploit Ghana's left-wing defensive vulnerability, the overwhelming concentration of play through the middle suggests the match will be contested in the heart of the pitch.
Channel match-up · attack share against concession share
P4 · Who to watch
system-led
Who to watch
Both Croatia and Ghana rely on high-frequency box pressure to dictate their attacking rhythm. Croatia aims to convert territory into sustained shot volume, while Ghana looks to leverage set-piece dominance to force breakthroughs. Success for either side will likely hinge on their ability to protect the top of the box without conceding dangerous space elsewhere.
Adaptive spotlight · who / what to watch
per-team branch · threat / contain
Croatiasystem-led
B
Box pressure
team tactic
Box touches100th
CRO are a system watch if they keep repeat touches around the penalty area.
Contain it by protecting the top of the box; the cost is inviting wide circulation.
S
Shot volume
team tactic
Shots97th
CRO become the watch if their system turns territory into repeat shots.
Contain it by forcing low-value shots; the cost is conceding field position.
Ghanasystem-led
B
Box pressure
team tactic
Box touches100th
GHA are a system watch if they keep repeat touches around the penalty area.
Contain it by protecting the top of the box; the cost is inviting wide circulation.
SP
Set-piece pressure
team tactic
Set-piece share89th
GHA are worth watching on restarts when the first contact lands in the box.
Contain it by conceding fewer cheap restarts; the cost is defending deeper for longer spells.