Dalić Blames Refereeing After Heartbreak as Croatia Out of 2026 World Cup

Zlatko Dalić hit out at “very bad refereeing” after Croatia’s 2-1 defeat to Portugal in the Round of 32 in Toronto. He felt his side deserved more free-kicks and questioned crucial VAR calls. Cristiano Ronaldo levelled from a controversial VAR-awarded penalty before Gonçalo Ramos struck in the 94th minute. In stoppage time, Joško Gvardiol’s headed equaliser was ruled out after another lengthy offside check. The loss also marked the final World Cup appearance for captain Luka Modrić. Dalić paid tribute to Modrić’s storied career but insisted he’s optimistic about Croatia’s young talent.

Use The App To Win ₦1m

Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.