Derrick Lukassen marked his FIFA World Cup debut with a goal for Ghana but admitted the achievement was overshadowed by disappointment after the Black Stars lost 2-1 to Croatia in their final Group L match.
The defender fired home Ghana’s equaliser before Croatia regained the lead. Despite the defeat, the Black Stars progressed to the Round of 32 as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
Speaking after the match, Lukassen said scoring on his World Cup debut was special but insisted the team had wanted all three points.
“It’s a nice feeling to score my first goal at the World Cup, but I’m disappointed we didn’t win. Although we knew we had already qualified, we wanted to win at all costs.”
Lukassen also impressed defensively, finishing with 87 per cent pass accuracy, 86 touches, one clearance, four recoveries, and winning 80 per cent of his aerial duels.
His performance gives Ghana another boost ahead of Friday’s Round of 32 clash with Colombia, with the defender making an immediate impact on football’s biggest stage.
🎥 🇬🇠“It’s a nice feeling to score my first goal at the World Cup, but I’m disappointed we didn’t win. Although we knew we had already qualified, we wanted to win at all costs.”
Black Stars defender Derrick Luckassen on his debut goal against Croatia.#CitiSports pic.twitter.com/DlhU6VR8Fm
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) June 28, 2026
