Group L’s Final Closer
Croatia vs Ghana on June 27 closes Group L Matchday 3 simultaneously. Modrić meets Kudus. Tactics, lineups, predictions.
- June 27, 2026 Saturday
- Lincoln Financial Field
- Kick-Off 5:00 PM
Two squads chasing the Round of 16 path in Group L’s final closer.
Croatia’s tournament continues. Ghana’s tournament continues. The match likely decides Group L’s second qualification spot. Modrić’s likely final World Cup chapter writes another page. Kudus’s tournament audition continues.
Everything you need at kickoff
- Date
- Sat, June 27, 2026
- Kickoff (USA)
- Evening ET Simultaneous with England-Panama
- Venue
- Group L second venue Lincoln Financial Field or similar
- Group
- Group L England · Croatia · Ghana · Panama
- Stage
- Matchday 3
Round of 16 hopes ride on this match
For both teams, Round of 16 hopes ride on this match.
The storylines writing themselves
Modrić’s likely final World Cup
Veteran captain.
Mohammed Kudus’s continued breakout
Premier League.
Iñaki Williams’s pace
Ghana’s outlet.
Zlatko Dalić vs Otto Addo or successor
Tactical chess.
The simultaneous match factor
Group L’s final picture.
Tale of the tape
Croatia’s previous group matches will have shaped tactical confidence.
Ghana’s previous group matches will have revealed competitive capacity.
A 4-3-3 around Modrić’s tempo control.
A 4-3-3 around Kudus’s creative freedom.
Modrić deliveries.
Direct corners.
- Luka Modrić (captain)
- Joško Gvardiol (defender)
- Mateo Kovačić (midfielder)
- Andrej Kramarić (striker)
- Dominik Livaković (goalkeeper)
- Mohammed Kudus (creator)
- Iñaki Williams (pace)
- Thomas Partey (midfielder)
- Jordan Ayew (veteran)
- A defensive leader
- Generational transition
- Pace at fullback
- Striker output
- Squad pace at fullback
- Striker reliability
- Tournament mentality
Two organized teams; whoever produces moments wins
Two organized teams. Whoever produces moments wins.
Key questions
Can Ghana trap Modrić?
Can Kudus exploit Croatia’s right side?
Who wins the second-ball battle?
The names that decide it
Captain.
Leader.
Press-resistant.
Veteran.
Penalty specialist.
Marquee.
Pace.
Tactical glue.
Veteran.
Whoever handles Croatian set pieces.
Rising Stars & Breakout Candidates
Croatia: Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split products emerging.
Ghana: European-developed Black Stars pushing.
The grass remembers everything
First-ever competitive meeting
Croatia and Ghana have not previously met at a World Cup.
Croatia’s two semifinals in three World Cups
Remarkable.
Ghana’s 2010 quarterfinal
Their best.
Modrić’s likely final tournament
Storyline weight.
Kudus’s tournament audition
Continued.
A multicultural U.S. venue atmosphere
A multicultural U.S. venue atmosphere.
Fantasy & Betting Angle — informational only
Modrić key contribution: remains a central fantasy asset based on recent performances.
Kudus key contribution: elite fantasy.Both teams to score: plausible.A wildcard: Kramarić anytime scorer.
Play responsibly.
Best guess at kickoff
Lineups based on previous matchday performances.
Luka Modrić assists his tournament’s defining goal.
The kind of vintage performance that confirms the Real Madrid veteran’s lasting relevance.
One Player Nobody Is Talking About
Thomas Partey. Ghana’s defensive midfielder will be the player who decides whether the Black Stars can compete with Croatia’s central combinations.
Croatia take the lead through Modrić assist to Kramarić. Ghana equalize through Kudus. Perišić scores the winner in the second half. Man of the match: Luka Modrić.
A match the World Cup celebrates
A match the World Cup celebrates. Modrić’s tournament continues. Ghana’s tournament likely concludes. The football should be tactical.
