{"id":2014992,"date":"2026-06-27T23:30:59","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T20:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2014992"},"modified":"2026-06-27T23:30:59","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T20:30:59","slug":"vlasic-scores-winner-as-croatia-beats-ghana-2-1-to-reach-world-cup-knockout-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2014992","title":{"rendered":"Vla\u0161i\u0107 scores winner as Croatia beats Ghana 2-1 to reach World Cup knockout stage"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_main_microformat\/uploads\/2026\/06\/28\/6a405d1d89934.png&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"ue-c-article\">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__header\">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__main-column\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__header \">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__header-content ue-l-article--expand-right-full-from-tablet ue-l-article--expand-right-half-from-desktop\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__kicker-group\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__kicker-container\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__kicker\">World Cup<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h1 class=\"ue-c-article__headline js-headline js-headlineb \">Vla\u0161i\u0107 scores winner as Croatia beats Ghana 2-1 to reach World Cup knockout stage<\/h1>\n<p class=\"ue-c-article__standfirst\">Croatia edged it out late, finishing second in the group, while Ghana also advanced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__body\" data-section=\"articleBody\">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__main-column ue-l-article--minimum-content-from-tablet\">\n<figure class=\"ue-c-article__media ue-c-article__media--image ue-c-article--media-icon-m-from-phablet ue-l-article--expand-left-full-from-tablet ue-c-article__media--main-media\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-img-container ue-l-article--expand-edge-right-until-tablet ue-l-article--expand-edge-left-until-tablet\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1010px) 660px, (min-width: 980px) calc(100vw - 350px), (min-width: 740px) calc(100vw - 320px), 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_360_widen_webp\/uploads\/2026\/06\/28\/6a405d1d89934.webp 360w,https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_375_widen_webp\/uploads\/2026\/06\/28\/6a405d1d89934.webp 375w,https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_414_widen_webp\/uploads\/2026\/06\/28\/6a405d1d89934.webp 414w,https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_660_widen_webp\/uploads\/2026\/06\/28\/6a405d1d89934.webp 660w,https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_720_widen_webp\/uploads\/2026\/06\/28\/6a405d1d89934.webp 720w,https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_750_widen_webp\/uploads\/2026\/06\/28\/6a405d1d89934.webp 750w,https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_828_widen_webp\/uploads\/2026\/06\/28\/6a405d1d89934.webp 828w,https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_1320_widen_webp\/uploads\/2026\/06\/28\/6a405d1d89934.webp 1320w\" \/><\/div><figcaption class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption-inner\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__media-description\">Luka Modric celebrates after Croatia advanced in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.<\/span><span class=\"ue-c-article__media-source\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__media-author\">LAPRESSE<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar has-avatar ue-c-article__bar--horizontal-from-tablet\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar-body\">\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__byline ue-l-article--grow-from-desktop\" aria-label=\"Redacci\u00f3n:\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__byline-item\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__byline-name\">\n                                LAPRESSE\n                    <\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__publishdate\" aria-label=\"Fecha de publicaci\u00f3n\"><span>Updated <\/span><time datetime=\"2026-06-27T23:30:59Z\">                            27\/06\/2026<br \/>\n        &#8211;<br \/>\n        <span>18:30<abbr title=\"Central Daylight Time\">CDT<\/abbr><\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar-secondary ue-u-hide-until-tablet ue-l-article--leftcol-width-from-tablet ue-l-article--float-left-from-tablet-no-margin ue-l-article--move-to-leftcol-from-tablet ue-u-sticky-top-80\">\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools  ue-c-article__share-tools--direction-column js_socialMedia\" aria-label=\"Compartir art\u00edculo en Redes Sociales\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--facebook\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Facebook<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--twitter\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Twitter<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--telegram\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Telegram<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--whatsapp\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Whatsapp<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--email\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir por Mail<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles ue-l-article--width-1of2-from-mobile ue-l-article--width-1of3-from-desktop ue-l-article--float-right-from-mobile ue-c-article__subtitles--boxed\" aria-label=\"Contenido relacionado\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-item  \"><span class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-kicker\">Liga MX.\u00a0 <\/span>Gilberto Mora&#8217;s first World Cup start earns him serious interest from one of the best European clubs in the world<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-item  \"><span class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-kicker\">MLS.\u00a0 <\/span>Lionel Messi&#8217;s close friend at Inter Miami reveals intimate thought the legend had about his future<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__body\">\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph ue-c-article--first-letter-highlighted\"><strong>Croatia<\/strong> earned a spot in the <strong>World Cup<\/strong> knockout round, getting goals from <strong>Nikola Vla\u0161i\u0107<\/strong> and <strong>Luka Su\u010di\u0107<\/strong> to beat <strong>Ghana<\/strong> 2-1 on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">Ghana had already clinched a spot in the round of 32 for the first time since 2010.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">Vla\u0161i\u0107 headed home <strong>Luka Modri\u0107<\/strong>\u2019s corner in the 83rd minute to score the winner and put Croatia back in contention after it finished third in 2022. The win means Croatia finished second behind <strong>England<\/strong> in Group L, with Ghana third.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">Su\u010di\u0107 scored in the 31st minute for Croatia on an absolute rocket from outside the box for his second career international goal.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\"><strong>Derrick Luckassen<\/strong> scored the equalizer that \u2014- after a brief review \u2014 sent thousands of fans wearing yellow into a frenzy. Luckassen, brother of the <strong>Netherlands<\/strong>\u2019 <strong>Brian Brobbey<\/strong>, found the bottom right corner in the 73rd minute to make it 1-1 and the first of the five group stage games in Philadelphia where both teams scored.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"ue-c-article__media ue-c-article__media--video  video-player\"><figcaption class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption-inner\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__media-description\">Mbapp\u00e9 tries to impress NBA teams with a step-back shot against Jules Kound\u00e9<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">Ghana goalie <strong>Benjamin Asare<\/strong> briefly kept it a tie game on a diving stop off the top of his hand that sent the ball over the net but failed only a minute later to stop Vla\u0161i\u0107.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">Vla\u0161i\u0107 wagged his tongue and ran toward his teammates with outstretched arms in celebration.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">Su\u010di\u0107 helped Croatia take a 1-0 lead into halftime in a game where a couple of near misses prevented it from building a more comfortable lead. Nikola Vla\u0161i\u0107 bonked one of the posts earlier in the half, and Modric\u2019s cross on a free kick into the box was headed over the bar by <strong>Marin Pongra\u010di\u0107<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">Ghana seemed poised to tie the game late in the half when <strong>Antoine Semenyo<\/strong> beat his man and fired a shot that slid across the Kentucky bluegrass and went just wide of the left post.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">Semenyo was one of the few prominent attackers in this tournament to go without a goal in the first three games. He finished third in the Premier League with 17 goals last season and was one of Manchester City\u2019s best players after it bought him from Bournemouth, yet couldn\u2019t connect in the World up against Panama, England and even Croatia\u2019s backline.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\"><strong>Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 and Erling Haaland<\/strong> have dazzled in the World Cup where every game has seemed like a showcase for the tournament\u2019s top stars.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">The good news for Semenyo is, there\u2019s at least one more shot for him to bust through for Ghana.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr class=\"taboola-art-mid-script\" data-ue-is-premium=\"false\" data-ue-is-basic=\"true\" data-ue-is-mobile=\"false\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__tags-container\">\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__tags\" aria-label=\"Etiquetado como:\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__tags-item\">FIFA World Cup<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__tags-item\">Croatia National Football Team<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__tags-item\">Ghana National Football Team<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news \" aria-label=\"Art\u00edculos relacionados\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-item\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-kicker\">World Cup <\/span>England beats Panama 2-0 on goals by Bellingham and Kane to win its World Cup group<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-item\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-kicker\">World Cup <\/span>Cape Verde fans send playful message to Lionel Messi with goats wearing Vozinha jerseys<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-item\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-kicker\">World Cup <\/span>Tensions explode in Panama: clash between Cecilio Waterman and Jos\u00e9 Luis Rodr\u00edguez<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-popular-links js-featured-links ue-c-popular-links--closed\">\n<ul class=\"list ue-c-popular-links__list hidden-content\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-popular-links__list-item \">NFL News<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-popular-links__list-item \">Cowboys News<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.marca.com\/en\/world-cup\/2026\/06\/28\/vlasic-scores-winner-as-croatia-beats-ghana-2-1-to-reach-world-cup-knockout-stage.html&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_main_microformat\/uploads\/2026\/06\/28\/6a405d1d89934.png&#8221;] World Cup Vla\u0161i\u0107 scores winner as Croatia beats Ghana 2-1 to reach World Cup knockout stage Croatia edged it out late, finishing second in the group, while Ghana also advanced. Luka Modric celebrates after Croatia advanced in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.LAPRESSE LAPRESSE Updated 27\/06\/2026 &#8211; 18:30CDT Compartir en Facebook Compartir en [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,45],"class_list":["post-2014992","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-marca-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2014992","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2014992"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2014992\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2014992"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2014992"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2014992"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}