Croatia

In the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Joško Gvardiol makes a crucial intervention for Croatia against Belgium in the 48th minute. Early in the second half, Kevin De Bruyne swings a dangerous cross into the Croatian box. Anticipating the Belgian attackers, Gvardiol reads the play perfectly and moves ahead of his opponent. With excellent timing, he clears the ball out of the area with a sharp volley before the Belgian forward can reach it. His quick reaction prevents a clear scoring opportunity for Belgium. Gvardiol’s anticipation and decisive defending prove vital for Croatia in this tense moment.