Serbian Media Speculate on Ghana's Intentions After Croatia's World Cup Victory

Regional media outlets have focused on reactions to Croatia's 2-1 victory over Ghana in the 2026 World Cup, a win that secured Croatia's advancement to the knockout stage. While Croatian and Bosnian media celebrated the win and acknowledged Ghana's advancement as a third-place team, some Serbian media have stirred controversy with unsubstantiated claims.

Serbian portals like Mondo and Kurir have insinuated that Ghana deliberately lost the match. Mondo suggested Ghana aimed for a third-place finish to allow their key player, Thomas Partey, to resolve visa issues for playing in America. The article cites Partey's potential visa problems for Canada as the reason for Ghana's alleged preference for a third-place spot.

Kurir went further, labeling a Ghanaian player's reaction to a goal as "more than ridiculous" and questioning the "casualness and nonchalance" of the Ghanaian players. The outlet implied this behavior was illogical, especially since Ghana would still advance with four points as a third-place team, potentially facing Colombia or Portugal in the next round, while Croatia would meet one of those teams.

Večernji List, the source publication, contrasts these insinuations with reporting from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Klix.ba noted Croatia's strong position before the match, stating they could have advanced with a draw but chose to win. SportSport.ba affirmed Croatia's deserved victory and acknowledged the advancement of Croatia, England, and Ghana to the knockout stage.