Croatia erupts after VAR controversy vs. Portugal in World Cup exit: “Deplorable”

A stoppage-time goal is overturned after VAR intervention, ending Croatia’s comeback hopes in heartbreaking fashion.

Update: Jul 3rd, 2026 06:45 EDT

Croatia is in turmoil after its elimination from the World Cup following a dramatic and controversial defeat to Portugal, with strong criticism directed at the refereeing team and a late VAR decision that ultimately defined the match.

Head coach Zlatko Dalić and captain Luka Modrić saw their side fall in a match that has sparked outrage across Croatia, with local media and football figures claiming the team was harshly treated by officials in a game that decided their tournament fate.

“We were set up,” Croatian media claims

Croatian outlet Sportske Novosti did not hold back in its assessment.

“We were shot in the foot and the refereeing set a trap for us. Everything was decided against us. This match will be remembered, but for all the wrong reasons,” the newspaper reported.

It also pointed to FIFA’s decision to name Cristiano Ronaldo as man of the match, adding: “That says a lot about what we witnessed.”

Another report summed up the emotional swing of the game: “We thought stoppage time was on our side, but we were hit with a cruel blow, a real shock rarely seen in football.”

This is the "header" that robbed Croatia of a last minute equaliser against Portugal #PORCRO

He was deemed to have made contact with the ball and therefore the goal was offside.

VAR is the most soul sapping invention ever. Spontaneous joy doesn't exist anymore in Football. pic.twitter.com/A5STNN6u81
— Neil Hughes (@BlobWarriorUK) July 3, 2026

A match defined by fine margins

Croatia struck first through Ivan Perišić, but Portugal equalized 15 minutes later when Cristiano Ronaldo converted from the penalty spot.

The Vatreni, Croatia’s national team nickname, thought they had regained the lead only for a goal from Luka Sučić to be ruled out for offside.

However, the most controversial moment came deep into stoppage time. With Portugal ahead, Croatia believed they had leveled the match at 2-2 through Mario Pašalić. The goal was disallowed after a VAR review ruled that Andrej Kramarić had interfered from an offside position after a touch involving Mateo Matić.

The decision wiped out what would have been a dramatic equalizer and sent Portugal through, ending Croatia’s World Cup run.

Dalić: “The refereeing was deplorable”

Croatian daily 24Sata called the decision “shocking” and “very difficult to accept.”

Dalić also addressed the controversy more bluntly, saying, “The refereeing was deplorable. Not a single foul went our way. Bad officiating, no doubt, but Croatia lost and we don’t have the right to complain. I am sorry.”

“One of the most controversial VAR calls we’ve seen”

Reaction quickly spread beyond Croatia, with several prominent football voices weighing in.

Former England defender Jamie Carragher said the VAR intervention was deeply flawed.

“I think that is a shocking use of VAR,” Carragher said. “If officials need several minutes drawing lines and reviewing every angle, then it is not the kind of clear and obvious error VAR was designed to fix.

“To me, this is one of the most controversial offside decisions we’ve seen at this World Cup. Croatia thought they had created one of the tournament’s defining moments, only for it to be taken away after a forensic review. Football is about instinct and emotion, not freezing frames until you find the smallest reason to disallow a goal. Decisions like this make people lose faith in VAR.”

Ibrahimović: “Croatia has every right to feel robbed”

Zlatan Ibrahimović was equally direct in his assessment.

“Football can be incredibly cruel. I don’t care what anyone says, I think Croatia has every right to feel robbed,” he said.

“I’ve seen the replay and I still don’t see enough to convince me Gvardiol was offside. In a final-minute goal in a World Cup knockout match, it has to be obvious. This was not obvious.

“That goal should have stood. Croatia thought they had survived. The players celebrated, the fans exploded, and then it was all taken away. These are the moments that break teams.”

Lineker questions VAR use in tight margins

Gary Lineker also expressed sympathy for Croatia and questioned the use of VAR in marginal calls.

“It is heartbreaking,” Lineker said. “They thought they had created one of their greatest World Cup moments, and then everything stopped while officials drew lines and reviewed frames.

“I have always believed VAR should correct clear and obvious errors, not spend minutes dissecting incidents nobody can see in real time. When decisions come down to margins this fine, you have to ask whether the technology is really improving the game.”

Lineker added that matches should be remembered for moments on the pitch, not post-match controversy.