Croatia secured their place as Group L runners-up by defeating Ghana 2-1 in Philadelphia, with Nikola Vlasic heading the decisive goal in the 83rd minute. The victory, assisted by Luka Modric, propelled Croatia into the knockout stages where they'll face Group K's second-place finisher.

The result confirmed Scotland's World Cup exit, ending their campaign without progressing from the group stage. Modric's historic performance stole the spotlight, making his 22nd World Cup appearance to surpass Diego Maradona's record while becoming the oldest player ever to record a World Cup assist at 40 years, 291 days old.

Croatia's comeback victory followed goals from Petar Sucic and Derrick Luckassen, though the latter required a VAR review to confirm the scoreline. Despite questions about replicating their 2018 and 2022 deep runs, Modric's latest milestone ensures his legacy remains intact as speculation grows around his potential retirement.