Euro Championship - Qualification · Attacker · #9 · Croatia · 28 yrs
With the MLS vs. Liga MX All-Star Game set to begin on Wednesday, Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul are the two most notable absences for the event in Charlotte. The MLS All-Star team is set to square off against the Liga MX All-Stars on Wednesday, July 29, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte for the eighth edition of the North American showcase match. As anticipation builds ahead of kickoff, the absence of Inter Miami superstars Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul stands out as the most glaring omission from tonight’s rosters. Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will not feature in the 2026 All-Star Game after receiving official load-management clearance from Major League Soccer. The decision stems directly from their grueling summer run at the 2026 World Cup, where the Argentine duo played through the final on July 19, leaving them without an adequate offseason recovery window. Having pushed through to the final against Spain, Inter Miami worked with league officials to coordinate an authorized rest period for the pair. Thanks to this special exemption, neither Messi nor De Paul will face disciplinary action or league-mandated suspensions, avoiding the situation Messi encountered last season following an unsanctioned absence. Having been granted time off from the midsummer exhibition, both Argentine stars received extended downtime following their international duties. Messi officially returned to Inter Miami’s training facility on Wednesday to begin his ramp-up period, while De Paul has yet to rejoin the squad under manager Guillermo Hoyos. POV: Morning greetings with the squad 😁☀️ pic.twitter.com/1ZAodv1BW4— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 29, 2026 With the superstars sitting out, rookie midfielder Yannick Bright will serve as Inter Miami’s sole representative on the MLS All-Star squad. Even without Messi, the roster boasts plenty of star power, headlined by LAFC’s Son Heung-min and Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Thomas Muller making their All-Star debuts, alongside forwards Sam Surridge (Nashville SC) and Petar Musa (FC Dallas). Noteworthy absences for the MLS vs. Liga MX All-Star Game Messi and De Paul lead a high-profile list of missing marquee names for tonight’s exhibition, particularly notable given that Messi has yet to participate in an All-Star Game since arriving in MLS in 2023. However, several other featured stars from both leagues will also sit out tonight’s contest. On the MLS side, Chicago Fire defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi was ruled out following his World Cup run with South Africa. Liga MX suffered notable hits as well: Pumas UNAM goalkeeper Keylor Navas will miss out due to a knee injury setback, while 17-year-old Tijuana prodigy Gilberto Mora was dropped from the squad without an official explanation from his club or the league.
This heavyweight clash between Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric will directly alter the tournament landscape. Let's take a closer look at the knockout scenarios and how the ultimate victor will impact the rest of the bracket. In one of the most anticipated Round of 32 matchups of the 2026 World Cup, Portugal and Croatia are battling for much more than mere survival. This heavyweight clash between Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric will directly alter the tournament landscape. Let’s take a closer look at the knockout scenarios and how the ultimate victor will impact the rest of the bracket. Both national teams arrive in Toronto after finishing as runners-up in their respective groups. Portugal secured second place in Group K behind Colombia, while Croatia recovered from an opening defeat to England to finish second in Group L, setting up the first-ever World Cup meeting between these European rivals. Portugal advanced through the group stage unbeaten but without completely convincing. Roberto Martinez’s side opened with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo, produced a dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s historic brace, and then played out a goalless draw with Colombia. Croatia also experienced mixed fortunes before finding momentum. Zlatko Dalic’s side suffered a 4-2 defeat against England before responding with narrow victories over Panama and Ghana to secure qualification for the knockout rounds. Pos.TeamPldW-D-LPtsStatus1.Colombia32-1-07Advanced2.Portugal31-2-05Advanced3.DR Congo31-1-14Advanced4.Uzbekistan30-0-30Eliminated The matchup also renews a rivalry that has largely favored Portugal. The Selecao das Quinas has won seven of the previous ten meetings between the two countries, although the Checkered Ones have built a reputation for thriving in World Cup knockout soccer regardless of previous records. PosTeamPldW-D-LPtsStatus1.England32-1-07Advanced2.Croatia32-0-16Advanced3.Ghana31-1-14Eliminated4.Panama30-0-30Eliminated What happens if Portugal wins and Croatia loses? A victory over Croatia would send Portugal into the Round of 16, where another demanding challenge would await. The national team would face the winner of Spain vs. Austria, with the opportunity to continue chasing a place in the quarter-finals. Cristiano Ronaldo #7 of Portugal celebrates with teammates after scoring. Should Portugal progress beyond that stage, the route becomes even more demanding. A potential quarter-final against Belgium or the United States could follow, while later rounds may feature European giants such as France, Germany, or the Netherlands, highlighting just how difficult this section of the bracket could become. Despite the challenge, Portugal would remain among the tournament favorites. With experienced stars and attacking quality throughout the squad, advancing against Croatia would keep the dream of another World Cup title very much alive. What happens if the match is tied after 90 minutes? A draw at the end of regulation would only be the beginning of the drama. Knockout matches cannot finish level, meaning the contest would move into 30 minutes of extra time, and if neither side finds a winner, a penalty shootout would decide who progresses. Cristiano Ronaldo #7 of Portugal drinks at the hydration break From a bracket perspective, the outcome remains identical regardless of whether qualification comes after 90 minutes, extra time, or penalties. The advancing team would continue along the same knockout path, while the defeated nation would see its World Cup campaign come to an immediate end. What happens if Croatia wins and Portugal loses? Should Croatia eliminate Portugal, one of the tournament’s leading contenders would exit far earlier than expected. Croatia would inherit Portugal’s position in the bracket and continue into the Round of 16 to face the winner of Spain versus Austria. Petar Musa #26 of Croatia celebrates with teammates. Such an upset would significantly alter the balance of power on this
A single moment could alter the course of their World Cup journey forever, with a win, draw, or loss dictating whether Croatia marches on to glory, clings to the hope of third-place calculations, or suffers the sheer heartbreak of elimination. With their World Cup survival on the line, Croatia and Ghana are gearing up for a fiercely contested Group L finale. A single moment could alter the course of their World Cup journey forever, with a win, draw, or loss dictating whether Croatia marches on to glory, clings to the hope of third-place calculations, or suffers the sheer heartbreak of elimination. The match carries huge importance because England and Panama are also playing at the same time, meaning the final table could shift until the final whistle. Croatia has three points after beating Panama, while Ghana sits on four points after a victory and a draw, keeping both teams alive for different reasons. Croatia entered the tournament facing questions about whether its experienced core could still compete at the highest level. After suffering a 4-2 defeat against England in the opening match, the national team responded with a crucial 1-0 victory over Panama thanks to Ante Budimir’s second-half goal, keeping the qualification dream alive. The biggest advantage for Croatia remains its incredible tournament experience, led by captain Luka Modric. At 40 years old and with 200 international appearances, he continues to control matches through his vision, passing, and ability to slow down or accelerate the tempo whenever needed. The Checkered Ones’ midfield strength with Modric and Mateo Kovacic will be essential against Ghana’s energetic style. PositionTeamWDLGDPts1.England110+242.Ghana110+143.Croatia101-134.Panama002-20 Meanwhile, Ghana arrives with confidence after collecting four points from its first two matches. The Black Stars defeated Panama 1-0 before producing a disciplined defensive performance to hold England to a goalless draw. The African side has impressed with its organization, pressing, and ability to transition quickly from defense into attack. What happens if Croatia wins and Ghana loses? A Croatia victory would completely change the Group L picture. Three points would move Croatia to six points and guarantee a top-two finish, sending the national team directly into the Round of 32. If England fails to beat Panama, Croatia could even finish first in the group. However, if England wins, Croatia would likely secure second place while Ghana would drop down the table. Petar Musa #26 of Croatia celebrates with teammates. For Ghana, a defeat would not necessarily end the tournament. With four points already collected, the Black Stars would still have a strong chance of advancing through the best third-place ranking system. Croatia would rely on exactly the kind of match where experience matters most. A tense, high-pressure encounter could favor a side that has already reached the final stages of previous World Cups. What happens if Croatia draws vs Ghana? A draw would create a complicated situation for Croatia. The national team would finish the group stage with four points and likely remain in third place, meaning qualification would depend on the wider third-place rankings. The result would be much better news for Ghana. A draw would move the Black Stars to five points and guarantee automatic qualification to the knockout round. Ivan Perisic of Croatia Ghana would also keep the possibility of winning the group alive depending on what happens between England and Panama. A point would allow the team to continue its impressive tournament run without needing help from other groups. For Croatia, a draw would keep hope alive but remove control from its own hands. The national team would have to wait and see whether four points and its goal difference are enough to move forward. What happens if Ghana wins and Croatia loses? A defeat would put Croatia in the most dangerous position. The national team would remain on three poi
Despite a close start, England managed to defeat Croatia 4–2, securing its first victory in the 2026 World Cup. Harry Kane scored a historic two-goal performance, with Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford rounding out the scoring. Following an unbeaten run in the UEFA qualifiers, England arrive as clear favorites to win the 2026 World Cup. In their debut, they defeated Croatia with a brilliant offense and high press. While Zlatko Dalić’s team seemed to dominate the game, Luka Modrić’s foul reshaped it, as Harry Kane’s first goal completely transformed Croatia’s approach. With a brilliant performance, the 32-year-old striker netted a historic brace. Croatia managed to impose their high press and dominance in the opening minutes. In fact, they were suffocating England, constantly limiting them. Despite this, Luka Modrić committed a foul on Noni Madueke, which led to Harry Kane’s penalty goal. After this goal, they dropped back noticeably, looking completely inferior. Although Martin Baturina and Petar Musa scored, they were never able to go toe-to-toe with their opponents again. Despite battling for a few minutes, England imposed clearly on Croatia. After pressing high throughout the match, they limited Croatia’s counterattacks, creating numerous chances to score. After Kane’s second goal, they managed to win the match. Although their opponents equalized, they overturned the result through Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford, imposing their brilliant offense. Harry Kane brace sees him tie Gary Lineker’s World Cup record Throughout the match, Harry Kane remained an all-around player, being a key figure in the build-up and dropping back into defense, just as he does at Bayern Munich. Confusing Croatia with his movements, he managed to score a historic brace that led him to equal a record held by the legend Gary Lineker in World Cup history, matching 10 goals in 12 matches to become the English players with the most goals in the competition. Most World Cup goals for England:10 — Harry Kane10 — Gary Lineker pic.twitter.com/rTP1ZIzZdd— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) June 17, 2026 After an efficient counterattack, Noni Madueke dribbled past his opponents and entered Croatia’s penalty area. As a result, Luka Modrić fouled him inside the box, and the referee awarded the penalty. Harry Kane took the shot, which was saved by Dominik Livaković. Despite this, the kick was retaken because the goalkeeper had come off his line. On his second attempt, he managed to score the penalty, giving England the lead. Harry Kane's initial penalty was retaken after review.He did not miss the second. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/sgUndfAuB1— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 17, 2026 Taking advantage of their strength from corner kicks, Declan Rice delivered a precise cross into the box. With no Croatian player marking him, Harry Kane made a run into the area and powered a header past Dominik Livaković. With this, he established as England’s top scorer with 80 goals, holding a wide advantage over Wayne Rooney, who is in second place. HARRY KANE BAGS A BRACE! 🏴2 goals in an incredible start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the England captain pic.twitter.com/4ThDwnGFJ2— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 17, 2026
Thomas Tuchel made it plain that when the stress came with the serious business of World Cup matches, he believed his England team would thrive. What had gone before, especially in the friendlies, was little more than a distraction. Here in the Lone Star state, which tallies with what England have on their shirts, it was time to make a statement about that second star.There was a fair helping of stress against Croatia, the 11th best team in the world and the highest ranked pot two nation in the tournament – particularly in the first half. It was down to defending that was simply too open and generous. A seesaw opening 45 minutes ended 2-2, Harry Kane scoring England’s goals, the first from a retaken penalty. Martin Baturina and Petar Musa replied for Croatia. England were powerful on corners. The overall sense in open play was one of confusion. Continue reading...
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