Nikola Vlasic scored a late header from a Luka Modric corner to give Croatia a 2-1 victory over Ghana, securing second place in World Cup Group L and a spot in the last 32. Petar Susic had opened the scoring for Croatia, while Derrick Luckassen equalised for Ghana before Vlasic's decisive goal.
Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic World Cup match, with Goncalo Ramos scoring the winning goal in stoppage time after Cristiano Ronaldo had equalised from a penalty. The victory ends Luka Modric's fifth World Cup bid, and Portugal now advances to face Spain in the round of 16.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic hit out at the team's doubters and said they were back to the Croatia of old after they snatched a 2-1 win over Ghana to reach the last 32 of the World Cup on Saturday.
Portugal and Croatia face off in a high-stakes Round of 32 clash in Toronto on Thursday, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric both eyeing a deep World Cup run in what could be the final chapter of their legendary international careers.
Inter Milan squander a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Torino, keeping the Serie A title race alive with four rounds left.
Luka Modric is expected to lead Croatia at what could be his final World Cup as Zlatko Dalic's side aim to continue their remarkable record of success on football's biggest stage despite fitness concerns over their captain.
The visitors kept up the pressure in the second half and after a series of chances Pulisic equalised, turning home a low cross from close range in the 67th, seconds after coming on.
The official 26-man squads for FIFA World Cup 2026.
Croatia finished ahead, on goals scored, of the Czech Republic, who lost 1-0 to group winners England.
A summary of Friday's action in the FIFA World Cup 2026 UEFA Qualifiers.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Tuesday.
Images from the FIFA World Cup Group F match between Morocco and Croatia on Wednesday.
Liverpool have extended captain Jordan Henderson's contract, the Premier League side said on Tuesday, putting an end to speculation over his future at the Merseyside club.
Modric was unable to dictate play as much as he normally would
The result continued a dismal streak for Madrid, who have won only two of their last five games in all competitions
Real Madrid have avoided defeat in their last 41 LaLiga games, the second best streak by a team in the competition's history.
Images from the FIFA World Cup match between Croatia and Japan on Monday.
Real Madrid failed in their attempt to sign France striker Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint Germain on the final day of the transfer window as Cristiano Ronaldo completed his move from Juventus to Manchester United.
Timo Werner scored his first goal of the season as a much-changed Chelsea side crept into the fourth round of the League Cup by beating Aston Villa 4-3 on penalties after the Stamford Bridge clash ended 1-1 on Wednesday.
Ivan Perisic scored a stunning second half equaliser as Croatia pegged back Czech Republic for a 1-1 draw in Group D on Friday, keeping their slim hopes alive of qualifying to the European Championship knockout stages.
The next man in charge faces an unenviable task trying to sort out the existing mess and then living up to goals that seem ever more distant.
Germany overcame an early red card to Emre Can and eventually eased to a 3-0 victory away to Estonia on Sunday in a Euro 2020 qualifier to go joint-top of Group C.
Round-up of World Cup qualifiers played on Friday
Images from the FIFA World Cup qualifier matches played on Tuesday night.
On a day of frenetic spending that took the Premier League total to a record far above one billion pounds ($1.29 billion), Antonio Conte's side also missed out on two of their other targets - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Fernando Llorente.
Glimpses from Sunday's Nations League matches.
Real Madrid got their Champions League title defence off to a strong start on Wednesday by convincingly beating AS Roma 3-0 at home with goals from Isco, Gareth Bale and a stoppage-time strike from returning striker Mariano Diaz.
Diogo Jota and Joao Felix both scored their first international goals in the second half before Bruno Petkovic pulled one back and Andre Silva then added a fourth.
Images from the World Cup qualifying matches played on Monday.
A round-up of Saturday's qualifying matches for the Euro 2020 Finals.
The FIFA 2022 World Cup will kick-off in Qatar on Sunday, November 20. Here is a list of the 26-man squads playing in the quadrennial global football extravaganza.
A round-up of Friday's Euro 2020 qualifying matches.
France stretched their unbeaten run against Croatia to eight games after a late goal by Kylian Mbappe gave the world champions a 2-1 win in their Nations League top-tier Group 3 match on Wednesday.
Serge Gnabry continued his impressive scoring run for Germany, netting in second-half stoppage time for his ninth goal in his 10th international, completing Germany's eighth consecutive win over Northern Ireland.
