Ghana's path in the World Cup round of 32 has been set following a narrow 2-1 defeat to Croatia in their final group stage match. The Black Stars finished third in Group L with four points, setting up a clash against either Portugal or Colombia in Kansas City.
Match Recap: Ghana vs Croatia
Ghana adopted a more aggressive approach against Croatia, a departure from their defensive strategies in earlier matches. Petar Sucic opened the scoring for Croatia with a powerful strike from outside the box, giving them a 1-0 lead at halftime. Ghana equalized when Derrick Luckassen converted Ernest Nuamah's cross, a goal that stood after a lengthy VAR check. However, Nikola Vlasic headed home late to secure a 2-1 victory for Croatia.
Group L Standings and Ghana's Performance
The result left Ghana with four points from three matches. They began the tournament with a goalless draw against England and secured a late 1-0 win over Panama courtesy of Caleb Yirenkyi's goal. England topped the group after defeating Panama, while Croatia finished second.
Round of 32 Opponents
As third-place finishers, Ghana will face the winner or runner-up of Group K, which includes Portugal and Colombia. The final group stage matches for Group K are scheduled for early Sunday morning. Portugal and Colombia are both strong contenders, with Portugal boasting a talented squad and Colombia known for their resilience.
Other Group L Teams' Paths
Group L winners England will play in Atlanta against Senegal, DR Congo, or Portugal. Croatia, as runners-up, will face Colombia, Portugal, or DR Congo in Toronto.
