World Cup 2026: 'The second half was much better' â?? Derrick Luckassen

Derrick Luckassen has offered a candid assessment of Ghana's 2-1 defeat to Croatia, acknowledging that the Black Stars struggled in the first half before producing a much-improved display after the break.

Speaking after the Group L finale at Lincoln Financial Field, the defender, who was handed his first World Cup start, reflected on a performance that he believes was divided into two distinct halves.

"I think in the first half, we had the ball, but we didn't do a lot; we were just playing around," Luckassen said.

"But in the second half, we pressed forward, and we tried to put the balls in and it was much better, in my opinion."

Croatia took the lead in the 31st minute through Petar Sucic, with Ghana struggling to create meaningful chances before the break. However, the Black Stars emerged with renewed energy after the interval, pressing higher and testing the Croatian defence.

Luckassen himself brought Ghana level in the 73rd minute, but Croatia quickly restored their lead through Nikola Vlasic to secure a 2-1 victory and confirm their progression to the knockout stage.

Despite the defeat, Ghana had already secured their place in the round of 32 before kick-off, thanks to their 1-0 win over Panama and goalless draw against England. The Black Stars finished third in Group L with four points and will now face the winner of Group K.

For Luckassen, the second-half performance offered encouragement, even if the result did not go Ghana's way.

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