Croatia eliminated from World Cup after controversial VAR decision against Portugal

By Arjun Nair / 03.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 3 July 2026 — 3 min read

Croatia was eliminated from the World Cup after a 2-1 loss to Portugal in their round of 32 clash. The match featured a controversial Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decision that disallowed a late equaliser for Croatia, sparking strong reactions from their coach.

The decisive moment occurred in stoppage time when Josko Gvardiol appeared to score an equaliser. However, a VAR review determined that Igor Matanovic touched the ball, placing Mario Pasalic in an offside position before Gvardiol’s goal. This ruling, confirmed by ball sensor technology, led to the goal being disallowed.

Match Details and Controversial Call

The incident unfolded in the 103rd minute of the match held in Toronto. Gvardiol’s tap-in at the back post initially led to celebrations, but these were cut short by the VAR intervention. Norwegian referee Espen Eskas was instructed to review the play after a potential offside infringement was identified.

Officials concluded that Matanovic made a slight touch on the cross. Since Pasalic was in an offside position at the moment of Matanovic’s touch, his subsequent involvement in setting up Gvardiol’s goal was deemed illegal under the Laws of the Game. Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann explained that the offside stood because the ball was deflected by a defender and not deliberately played after being touched by a teammate.

Cann also highlighted the use of “Snicko” technology, a waveform system embedded within the match ball, which can detect even minimal contact. This technology reportedly provided 100% proof of Matanovic’s touch. The decision caused outrage among Croatian players and supporters, with midfielder Petar Sucic questioning the ruling and calling for further review.

Earlier in the game, Portugal was awarded a penalty following a VAR review, which Cristiano Ronaldo converted to level the score. Goncalo Ramos then scored in the 94th minute, putting Portugal ahead.

Croatia’s Reaction and Future Outlook

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic expressed his dissatisfaction with what he termed “bad refereeing” in the match. While acknowledging his team’s loss, Dalic stated he would not use the refereeing as an excuse, noting that his team should have created more chances earlier in the game.

Dalic observed that his team did not create enough opportunities in the first half but improved significantly in the second. He suggested that their previous luck in World Cups had run out. Croatia had finished as runners-up in 2018 and secured third place in 2022, but will leave this tournament without a medal.

The match also marked what was likely the final World Cup appearance for 40-year-old captain Luka Modric, a central figure for Croatia for many years. Dalic expressed regret that Modric’s tournament career ended in this manner.

Despite the disappointment, Dalic remains optimistic about the future of Croatian football. He stated that he is not concerned for the national team’s future, citing the emergence of many young players who have demonstrated quality. Dalic acknowledged the end of a significant era for Croatian football and anticipated new beginnings for the team.

Regarding his own future, Dalic, who has led Croatia since 2017, did not offer specific insights, stating that discussions would take place in Croatia.

Source: thehindu.com