Croatia sealed its place in the round of 16 of the World Cup by beating Ghana 2-1. The match, played on Saturday at the Philadelphia Eagles stadium, left a historical mark: Luka Modric, at 40 years and 291 days old, became the oldest player to give an assist in the history of the tournament.
A triumph with a seal of experience
The Croatian midfielder took a corner kick that Nikola Vlašic headed home in the 83rd minute to spark the celebration. Before, Petar Sucic had opened the scoring at 31′ with a powerful shot from outside the area. Ghana temporarily tied the score thanks to Derrick Luckassen in the 73rd minute, but could not maintain the tie.
“I told him after the game: you play like you’re 20 years old,” Sucic declared. “He was incredible today. He is our leader, our best player.”
Modric played his 200th game with the Croatian team and was once again key. Their attendance broke the record that dated back to 1966. Vlašic also praised the captain:
“It seems as if he has gone back 10 years in time. One of the best performances I have seen from him with Croatia.”
Ghana, to the second round despite the defeat
Despite the result, Ghana advanced to the knockout phase for the first time since 2010. Coach Carlos Queiroz lamented the defensive error that cost him the winning goal:
“Two easy goals. When you score one more than your opponent, it means you deserve to win.”
Croatia finished second in Group L, only behind England. Ghana came third. Modric, winner of the Ballon d’Or in 2018, continues to be the soul of the ‘Vatreni’ at 40 years old.
