Croatia: Back on track, but defensive concerns persist

Croatia steadied their World Cup campaign with a vital victory over Panama after suffering a disappointing 4-2 defeat to England in their opener. That first match exposed the weaknesses of Zlatko Dalić’s experiment with a three-man defense, as England repeatedly exploited the space behind the back line.

The response against Panama was encouraging, although far from convincing. Croatia struggled to impose themselves during the opening half and were tested by Panama’s energetic approach before turning the game around. The introduction of Ante Budimir proved decisive, with the striker making an immediate impact and helping secure Croatia’s first win of the tournament. Budimir now looks set to retain his place in the starting XI, while Marko Pašalić and Petar Musa could drop to the bench after quiet displays.

Ghana: Defensive discipline becoming Queiroz’s trademark

Carlos Queiroz has quickly transformed Ghana into a far more organized and disciplined outfit. After years of inconsistency, the Black Stars have built their early World Cup campaign on defensive solidity, keeping consecutive clean sheets against both Panama and England. Their performance against England was particularly impressive, as they limited one of the tournament favorites to very few clear-cut opportunities.

Thomas Partey remains the heartbeat of the team after returning to the lineup in the United States, providing composure and control in midfield. Going forward, Ghana will again rely on the pace of Iñaki Williams and Antoine Semenyo to launch dangerous counterattacks, while Caleb Yirenkyi continues to grow in influence in central areas. With their compact defensive structure and disciplined game plan, Ghana appear well-equipped to frustrate stronger opponents and capitalize on mistakes.

Probable lineups

Croatia: Livaković, Šutalo, Pongračić, Gvardiol, Stanišić, Kovačić, Modrić, Perišić, Baturina, Pašalić, Budimir.

Ghana: Asare, Adjetey, Opoku, Senaya, Mensah, Partey, Yirenkyi, Sibo, Williams, Semenyo, Ayew.

Match facts

Croatia bounced back from a 4-2 defeat to England by defeating Panama in their second group match.

Ghana have yet to concede a goal after two matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Croatia had conceded in seven consecutive matches before keeping a clean sheet against Panama.

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