CROATIA and Ghana settle second place in Group L, with very different routes to it. Ghana need only a draw to finish above the 2018 finalists, while Croatia must win to leapfrog them.
Expect a cagey, low-scoring night against one of the tournament’s meanest defences. Here’s a 15/2 SBK bet builder backing Croatia’s experience to edge it, plus team news and predicted line-ups.
Croatia vs Ghana kick-off time, date, TV channel and venue
Date: Saturday, June 27
Kick-off: 10pm BST
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Stage: Group L
TV channel: ITV & ITVX
Croatia vs Ghana bet builder tips
Here’s the bet builder, priced up at 15/2 with SBK, three legs that back Croatia to grind out a narrow win.
Croatia to win
Under 2.5 goals
Ante Budimir anytime goalscorer
➡️ Price: 15/2 at SBK (odds correct at time of publishing)
ON THE BALL
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Croatia to win
Croatia should be able to rely on their tournament experience and core of streetwise performers to clinch a slender victory against a Ghana side with one win in their last eight. Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Ivan Perisic have seen every situation a tournament can throw at them, and with only victory good enough to guarantee a place in the last 32, Zlatko Dalic’s side carry both the greater quality and the greater urgency.
Under 2.5 goals
Seven of Ghana’s last nine games have seen under 2.5 goals scored. Carlos Queiroz’s side only need a point to finish second, so expect a low block and few chances. The Black Stars are one of only four teams yet to concede at these finals, having kept back-to-back clean sheets, and a side defending that deep against a Croatia team that ground out a 1-0 win over Panama points firmly towards another tight, low-scoring affair.
Ante Budimir anytime goalscorer
Budimir grabbed the winner against Panama and can be Croatia’s hero again today. He now has four goals in his last 11 international appearances following a 19-goal season at Osasuna. His goal off the bench has him pushing hard for a start, and if he leads the line he is the obvious man to break down a stubborn Ghana defence.
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Croatia vs Ghana match preview
Group L could hardly be tighter at the top, with England and Ghana on four points and Croatia a point back in third. For Croatia, the equation is simple: win and they are through in second, while anything less leaves them sweating on a best third-placed finish. Ghana, by contrast, can afford to lose by a single goal and still go through; such is the strength of their position.
Croatia have not hit top gear yet. A chastening 4-2 defeat to England was followed by a scrappy 1-0 win over Panama, settled by Ante Budimir’s second-half strike, in a game they were fortunate not to find harder. The engine room of Modric, now 40 and at a fifth World Cup, Kovacic and the evergreen Perisic still carries real authority, but Dalic will know his side need to be far sharper to break down what is in front of them.
Because Ghana have been the story of the group at the back. Carlos Queiroz has built one of the tournament’s most resolute defensive units, keeping clean sheets against both Panama and England, the latter a backs-to-the-wall effort that drew praise even from Thomas Tuchel. With Thomas Partey shielding the back line and Jordan Ayew doing the unglamorous work up top, Ghana will be content to soak up pressure and hit Croatia on the break through the pace of Inaki Williams and Antoine Semenyo. A point does the job, and they will set up accordingly.
Key stats for Croatia vs Ghana
Seven of Ghana’s last nine matches have seen under 2.5 goals scored
Ghana are one of only four sides yet to concede at the finals, with back-to-back clean sheets
Ghana have won just one of their last eight matches
This is the first competitive meeting between Croatia and Ghana
Ante Budimir scored the only goal of Croatia’s 1-0 win over Panama, off the bench
Croatia vs Ghana betting odds
Here are the latest odds provided by SBK.
MarketOddsCroatia4/5Draw23/10Ghana5/1
Croatia vs Ghana predicted line-ups
Croatia (4-2-3-1): Livakovic; Stanisic, Pongracic, Sutalo, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Modric; Baturina, Pasalic, Perisic; Budimir
Ghana (4-3-3): Asare; Seidu, Salisu, Djiku, Mensah; Partey, Owusu, Fatawu; Semenyo, J Ayew, I Williams
Croatia vs Ghana team news
Croatia: Zlatko Dalic has a fully fit squad and a welcome selection headache up front after Budimir’s match-winning cameo against Panama, with the Osasuna striker pushing to start ahead of Petar Musa, while Andrej Kramaric is also in the mix for a first start. Josko Gvardiol was below par against Panama but keeps his place, and Dominik Livakovic continues in goal.
Ghana: Carlos Queiroz is without first-choice goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi, ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a groin injury, but Benjamin Asare impressed in his place against England and retains the gloves. Leicester winger Abdul Fatawu is pushing for a first start, with Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo and Inaki Williams all expected to feature.
Verdict
Expect Croatia’s tournament know-how to prove decisive in what should be a tense, low-scoring affair. A stubborn Ghana side will sit deep and frustrate, but Croatia have the experience and the desperation to find a way through, with Budimir the man to settle it. 15/2 at SBK.
Read more of our 2026 World Cup betting coverage
About the author
James Anderson
James Anderson is a Betting & Gaming Writer at The Jattvibe. He is an expert in sports betting and online casinos, and joined the company in November 2020 to work closely with leading bookmakers, casinos, and online gaming companies to curate content in all areas of iGaming and sports betting. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter and Head of Live Blogs/Events at the Daily Express and Daily Star, covering football, cricket, snooker, F1 and horse racing.
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