Croatia snatch second by beating Ghana but both through to World Cup knockout stage

It had been another rainy day in Philadelphia but that didn’t spoil the party. Sixty-eight thousand people in ponchos were still able to enjoy an intriguing contest defined by cracking goals, and one where both teams left the field happy. For Croatia , there was second place in Group L and a reminder that they remain a serious team. For Ghana, there was progress to the knockout rounds for the first time since 2010 and even some full-throttle attacking, for a few minutes at least. There were questions over what incentive either team would have to give their all. A goalless draw appeared to give each a good chance of progression through Fifa’s intricate qualification matrix. Croatia would have finished third, but with a potentially preferable route, Ghana would have finished in second place behind England. It would have been a nice and cosy settlement; but Croatia weren’t up for it. Granted, the opening half was hardly played at a high tempo, even given the comparatively cool temperatures in Philadelphia. But from the opening minutes it was clear that Zlatko Dalic had set his Croatia side up to open the pitch as much as possible, to draw the doughty Ghana defence apart and away from where they were most comfortable. With the full-backs posted to the touchline it was no surprise to see Croatia’s first opportunity, in the ninth minute, arrive as a result of an Ivan Perisic cross from the left, which the goalkeeper Benjamin Asare was able to claim. …