Croatia and Ghana have confirmed their starting lineups for the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup clash. The match is scheduled for this Friday, June 27, at 6pm (local time), at Lincoln Financial Field, located in Philadelphia, United States. This game is crucial for the third and decisive round of Group L.
This clash highlights the disparity in the FIFA rankings, with Croatia occupying 11th position globally, while Ghana is in 73rd place. The technical guidance of Zlatko Dalić for the Croatians and Carlos Queiroz for the Ghanaians promises an intense tactical duel, with both coaches looking for victory to advance in the competition. The teams’ recent performance ahead of this crucial round indicates an intense preparation phase for the tournament.
Projections from bookmakers, such as Betano and Superbet, point to Croatia as favorites to win the field. Football lovers in Brazil will have the opportunity to follow all the excitement of the game live, with the broadcast guaranteed on the Disney+ platform.
Croatian team announces its 11 starters for the decisive match
The Croatia team will enter the field with a tactical formation organized in 4-2-3-1. Coach Zlatko Dalić opted for a structure that aims to balance defense and attack, taking advantage of the experience of his midfielders.
- List of Croatia players:
- – Goalkeeper: Dominik Livaković
– Defenders: Josip Stanišić, Josip Šutalo, Marin Pongračić, Ivan Perišić
– Midfielders: Luka Modrić (captain), Mateo Kovačić, Nikola Vlašić, Petar Sučić, Martin Baturina
– Forward: Ante Budimir
Ghana reveals its starting team with a strong offensive scheme
On the Ghanaian side, coach Carlos Queiroz defined his lineup with a 4-3-3 tactical scheme. The bet is on speed and the ability to create offensive plays to try to surprise the opponent.
- List of Ghana players:
- – Goalkeeper: Benjamin Asare
– Defenders: Montari Senaya, J. A. Adjetey, Derrick Luckassen, Gideon Mensah
– Midfielders: Thomas Partey, Edmund Owusu, Kingsley Sibo
– Forwards: Kamaldeen Sulemana, Jordan Ayew (captain), Antoine Semenyo
Referee and individual highlights awaited on the field
The responsibility for refereeing the match will be in the hands of Drew Fischer, an experienced Canadian judge. His record shows an average of 0.17 red cards and 3.48 yellow cards per match. Among the athletes who promise to stand out in the game, attention turns to Croatian striker Ante Budimir and Ghanaian defender Gideon Mensah, both monitored for their recent performances.
Options on the bench for both teams
The coaching staffs of Croatia and Ghana have also confirmed their respective supporting casts. A series of athletes will be available on the bench, ready to enter during the match and influence the result according to the coaches’ tactical needs.
Croatia substitute players
- Dominik Kotarski
- Ivor Pandur
- Duje Ćaleta-Car
- Joško Gvardiol
- Luka Vušković
- Martin Erlić
- Kristijan Jakić
- Luka Sučić
- Marco Pašalić
- Mario Pašalić
- Nikola Moro
- Tony Fruk
- Andrej Kramarić
- Igor Matanović
- Petar Musa
Ghana substitutes waiting for their opportunity
- Lawrence Ati Zigi
- Joseph Anang
- Alidu Seidu
- Abdul Mumin
- Rahman Baba
- Jerome Opoku
- Kojo Peprah Oppong
- Caleb Yirenkyi
- Abdul Fatawu Issahaku
- Christopher Baah
- Iñaki Williams
- Augustine Boakye
- Brandon Thomas-Asante
- Ernest Nuamah
- Prince Kwabena Adu