Croatia’s dramatic late goal against Portugal was controversially disallowed after VAR detected the faintest touch from Igor Matanovic before the ball crossed the line. The striker questioned the ruling, while head coach Zlatko Dalic expressed strong criticism of the refereeing following Croatia’s heartbreaking exit.

VAR intervention crushes Croatia’s hopes

Croatia believed they had secured a stunning stoppage-time equaliser against Portugal, only for VAR to overturn the goal for offside after review. The decisive moment came when the technology recorded a minimal contact from Matanovic before the ball went into the net.

The forward admitted he wasn’t certain whether he had touched the ball, but the referee informed him that the chip inside the match ball detected a slight contact. Since Renato Veiga’s involvement was ruled to be a deflection rather than a deliberate play, the initial offside call stood. Portugal held on for a 2-1 win, leaving Croatia devastated after seeing yet another goal disallowed.

Matanovic questions the VAR verdict

Speaking after the match, Matanovic shared that he initially did not know if he had made any contact with the ball. He explained that the referee told him the chip embedded in the ball had picked up a minor touch, which led to the offside decision.

“Honestly, I think I felt a slight contact with my hair,” Matanovic said, as reported by A Bola. “I asked the referee because I wasn’t completely sure whether I had touched it. He told me that the ball’s chip showed a minimal contact, and that’s why it was ruled offside.”

“It’s hard to find the right words after this match. We played very well in the second half and definitely deserved more. I haven’t seen the penalty incident yet, but if you give that… three goals, offside, a post… I have no words. We were just unlucky today.”

“When I came on, I felt really good on the pitch. We delivered a strong performance, but this result hurts. We’ll have to move on, stay positive, and focus on the European Championship.”

Dalic blasts ‘very poor’ refereeing

While Matanovic expressed confusion, head coach Zlatko Dalic was visibly angry. He did not hold back in his criticism, claiming that his team received no fairness or protection from the match officials. Despite the disappointment, Dalic praised the determination his players showed in the second half.

“The refereeing was very bad. Not a single foul or interruption went our way,” Dalic said. “It was poor officiating, but Croatia lost, so we have limited grounds to complain. I’m sorry.”

“First of all, congratulations to Portugal, and I wish them all the best for the remainder of the tournament. In the second half, we dominated the game, created many chances, and didn’t deserve this result. I can only applaud my players. Still, in our last two matches, we were fortunate at times.”

Croatia bow out as Portugal move on to the Round of 16

With this defeat, Croatia have been knocked out of the 2026 World Cup and will now turn their attention to their next international commitments. The team is scheduled to play in the UEFA Nations League in September. Meanwhile, Portugal advance to the Round of 16, where they will face Spain at Dallas Stadium on Monday.