Na final group game for World Cup, Croatia and Ghana go face each other for Saturday night, and di match get plenty plenty tins for stake. Both teams still dey chance to automatic qualify from Group L, so dis one na real decider.
Croatia, wey be 2018 finalists, bounce back from defeat to England with 1-0 win over Panama. Dat result put dem just one point behind Ghana and England. With England expected to beat Panama for dia final game, dis match na direct shootout for di automatic qualification spot.
Ghana, under coach Carlos Queiroz, hold England to goalless draw for dia second group game, wey give dem four points total. Di Black Stars just need avoid defeat to guarantee top-two finish, but Queiroz likely go want see im team secure di win.
Croatia expected lineup: Livakovic, Stanisic, Sutalo, Pongracic, Gvardiol, Modric, Kovacic, Pasalic, Baturina, Perisic, Musa. Ghana expected lineup: Asare, Senaya, Adjetey, Opoku, Mensah, Partey, Williams, Yirenkyi, Sibo, Semenyo, Ayew.
Croatia last five games show mixed bag: two wins, three losses. Dem dominate Panama but no finis well. If dem play like dat against Ghana, di African side go find am easy to avoid defeat. Ghana hold England to draw, so two of dia last three matches be stalemates, plus 1-0 win against Panama. Under Queiroz, dis team hard to beat.
Opting for draw no be bad pick, given wetin dey at stake and how Ghana fit approach di match. Despite big gap for world rankings, dis match go close pass wetin many expect. Ghana dey improve under new coach, while Croatia struggle to find extra gear, maybe due to ageing cast.
Both sides get slow starts for dis tournament. Croatia matches finis level at halftime, and Ghana share same statistic. So, backing teams to draw at halftime fit be wise move. Ghana dey run of three halftime draws on di bounce.
Dere enough quality for both sides to penetrate defence, but dem also ship 10 goals across recent five outings. Ghana fail to score against England and no too prolific for front. Dem score three goals for last five games, wey show struggle for final third. But dem fit get joy from Croatia defence, especially with Jordan Ayew and Antoine Semenyo leading.
Three of Croatia last five matches see both teams score, wey go encourage Ghana. Both of Ghana World Cup matches produce fewer than three goals, while Croatia fixtures go each way. So, we likely see goals at both ends, but fit limited to just couple.
Antoine Semenyo tok say Ghana determined to continue impressive World Cup campaign. Following draw against England, confidence dey grow for Ghana camp. Semenyo say: “Last time we no get out of group and na huge disappointment, but dis time, if we fit get through, then who know wetin go happen. We dey here to win, we want make Ghana fans happy, and di longer we dey tournament, di bigger di party go be!”
Standing for Ghana way na 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia, led by evergreen captain Luka Modric, wey dey perform at highest level despite turning 40. Semenyo add: “Everyone tink di last World Cup go be im last, same as Messi and Ronaldo, but dem all back again. Modric still dey play for top level, so no really surprise. E go great to share pitch with great player like am.”
Di Manchester City forward go also come up against familiar Premier League opponents Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, although friendships go put aside as Ghana look to continue dia World Cup journey. Semenyo tok: “Like di England guys, I sure dere go be some messages for build-up. E go great to see dem, and I hope we fit get di better of dem, but dem be two great players wey no go make am easy for us.”
