Chance creation
Playmaking output: assists, key passes, and custom chance-creation signals.
Nikšić · UEFA Europa Conference League · Midfielder · #0 · Montenegro · 22 yrs
J. Perišić plays as a midfielder for Nikšić. J. Perišić is a represents Montenegro, 22 years old, midfielder, currently at Nikšić. J. Perišić was born in Montenegro on 2003-08-25. J. Perišić's Sportra profile tracks season statistics across UEFA Europa Conference League, Second League, First League, Cup. J. Perišić's page brings together career clubs, trophies, injury history, multi-competition stats, and related news headlines. On Sportra you can explore J. Perišić season statistics, transfer history, trophies, injury updates, and related news across every competition tracked in the profile.
Season intelligence
Profile as Midfielder: balanced output without a single dominant trait. Archetype: Balanced contributor.
Scaled 0–99 from season output — map to fantasy, comparisons, or scouting cards.
Per-90 rates, efficiency ratios, and Sportra indices from season totals.
Playmaking output: assists, key passes, and custom chance-creation signals.
Every tracked category for this league and season, grouped by Sportra.
Croatia face Portugal in a crucial Round of 32 match at the 2026 World Cup, where Josko Gvardiol will start the game on the bench. Croatia take on Portugal in the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup at Toronto Stadium, and manager Zlatko Dalic has once again decided to leave Josko Gvardiol out of his starting eleven. Dalic is opting to keep the same backline that finished the game against Ghana, meaning Gvardiol will start the match from the bench once more as he was replaced during the halftime. The Manchester City defender occupied the left side of Croatia‘s backline whenever he did play. However, for this crucial match, the coach opted to push Ivan Perisic back into a defensive role, having him cover the left side. Gvardiol lost his place among the starters The 24-year-old defender saw his performances decline throughout the 2026 World Cup, which led to him not starting this crucial match against Portugal as Croatia look to secure a place in the Round of 16. Josko Gvardiol #4 of Croatia is challenged by Noni Madueke #20 of England. (Getty Images) Gvardiol began the tournament as the starting left-back, in the 4-2 defeat to England, where his performance failed to fully convince Dalic. In Matchday 2 against Panama, he started again, but the coach opted to pull him at halftime to bring on more attacking players, pushing Perisic back into the left-back role. By the decisive Matchday 3 against Ghana, the coach went a step further, starting Perisic outright at left-back and only bringing Gvardiol on for the final three minutes of the match — making it clear his starting spot had been lost.
Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol has been left out of the starting lineup, leaving supporters wondering why one of Croatia's most important players will begin on the bench. Croatia heads into a decisive 2026 World Cup Group L clash against Ghana knowing victory is the only guaranteed route into the knockout stage, but one major surprise has dominated the pre-match discussion. Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol has been left out of the starting lineup, leaving supporters wondering why one of Croatia’s most important players will begin on the bench. With Ghana requiring only a positive result to strengthen its hopes of advancing, both national teams enter Philadelphia Stadium under enormous pressure. Croatia has little room for error after recovering from its opening defeat, making every selection decision even more significant. Croatia enters the final group-stage fixture after collecting three points from two matches, bouncing back from a heavy defeat to England with a narrow 1-0 victory over Panama. Ante Budimir’s winning goal kept Zlatko Dalic’s side alive, but the European nation still needs another strong performance to avoid relying on results elsewhere. Ghana, meanwhile, has impressed throughout the tournament with disciplined defending and intelligent game management. The Black Stars defeated Panama before producing a resilient goalless draw against England, leaving Carlos Queiroz’s squad in an excellent position ahead of the final group fixture. Josko Gvardiol #4 of Croatia looks on Why Josko Gvardiol is starting on the bench Putting an end to the pre-match speculation, the team finally cleared up the mystery behind Gvardiol’s absence right as the countdown to kickoff began. According to a report from Sportske Novosti, coach Zlatko Dalic decided to leave the Manchester City defender out of the starting lineup because he has not fully recovered from the broken leg he suffered earlier this year and is still working his way back to peak competitive condition. Rather than risking one of Croatia’s defensive leaders from the opening whistle, the coaching staff chose to carefully manage his workload with the knockout rounds still a possibility. Ivan Perisic has therefore shifted into the left-back role, while Nikola Vlasic comes into the attacking lineup to add creativity against what Croatia expects will be a compact Ghana defense. Josko Gvardiol #4 of Croatia reacts The stakes could not be higher Dalic’s decision demonstrates the difficult balance national team managers often face during major tournaments. Although Gvardiol remains one of Croatia’s most valuable defenders, protecting a player who is still regaining full match sharpness may prove more valuable over the course of the competition than asking him to start every fixture. Should the Checkered Ones secure the required result, having a fresher Gvardiol available later in the tournament could become a major advantage. For now, however, the manager will trust Ivan Perisic’s versatility and Ante Budimir’s recent form as it chases a place in the Round of 32. In fact, every minute of this contest carries enormous importance for both national teams. Croatia needs maximum points to remove any uncertainty surrounding qualification, while Ghana knows another composed performance could secure a long-awaited return to the World Cup knockout rounds.
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
Veteran Croatian player Ivan Perisic hopes their excellent record against African opposition can help them win their crucial match against Ghana on Saturday as they look to book their spot in the knockouts. Croatia has three wins and a draw against African World Cup opponents since 2014, including their victory over Morocco to secure third place in Qatar.
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.