Croatia's World Cup Exit; Modric Hints at Retirement After VAR Controversy
Croatia was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 after a 2-1 loss to Portugal. Captain Luka Modric, 40, strongly criticized VAR decisions, claiming a penalty against Croatia and a disallowed goal were unjust. Coach Zlatko Dalic echoed frustration over three VAR calls. Modric hinted at retiring from international football, declining to confirm his future. The defeat ended Croatia's tournament run and likely Modric's legendary national team career.
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Dejan Lovren's Angry Outburst After Croatia's World Cup Elimination Against Portugal
Following Croatia's 2-1 loss to Portugal in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, former defender Dejan Lovren expressed strong anger during his role as a pundit on Croatian channel HTV. He criticized his former team's defensive lapse on the late goal, calling it 'unacceptable' and stating that watching the replay made him 'feel sick.' Lovren controversially compared the defending to that of 'Congo,' implying a lack of professionalism. Despite his frustration, he defended Luka Modrić, saying he 'didn't deserve this,' and praised Mateo Kovačić, Igor Matanović, and Petar Sučić. Lovren argued that Croatia, ranked among the world's top ten teams, must rediscover the aggression and character that defined their recent successes. The article, published by Foot Mercato on July 3, 2026, highlights the emotional fallout from Croatia's elimination.
Foot Mercato : Info Transferts Football - Actu Foot TransfertModric Criticizes VAR After World Cup Exit Against Portugal
Following Croatia's narrow defeat to Portugal in the World Cup, captain Luka Modric has sharply criticized the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Modric stated that VAR 'has no business being there,' arguing that several interventions during the match played a decisive role in the outcome. The loss resulted in Croatia's bitter elimination from the tournament. The report, sourced from kicker football news, highlights growing frustration among players regarding the use of technology in critical matches.
kicker Fußball NewsCroatia: Luka Modrić Casts Doubt on His International Future After World Cup Exit
Following Croatia's elimination by Portugal in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, captain Luka Modrić has cast doubt on his future with the national team. At 40 years old, the legendary midfielder declined to confirm whether he would continue playing for Croatia, stating, 'It's not for today, you will know my decision soon.' Modrić also expressed frustration with the refereeing, notably contesting the penalty awarded to Portugal and the VAR decision to disallow a goal by Igor Matanović. He argued that VAR should only correct clear errors. Modrić, a 2018 Ballon d'Or winner, has had an exceptional career, including six Champions League titles with Real Madrid and a World Cup final appearance in 2018. His decision will be awaited by fans and the football world.
Foot Mercato : Info Transferts Football - Actu Foot TransfertModric Blasts VAR and Refereeing After Croatia's World Cup Loss to Portugal
In a post-match interview following Croatia's 2-1 Round of 16 World Cup loss to Portugal, captain Luka Modric expressed deep frustration with officiating, particularly the use of VAR. He claimed a disallowed goal by Gvardiol had no evidence of a touch, and criticized a penalty decision against Croatia, arguing VAR should only intervene on '200% clear mistakes' and not in gray areas. Modric suggested VAR is used selectively based on team reputation. Despite the loss, he praised Croatia's second-half performance and noted that teammates Kovacic and Perisic cried in the dressing room, reflecting the emotional weight of the defeat. He hinted at a possible retirement announcement soon, declining to discuss his future further.
虎扑 - 足球Modric: VAR Decisions Always Go Against Croatia, Painful Elimination
In the World Cup Round of 16, Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 after coming from behind. Following the match, Croatia captain Luka Modric expressed deep frustration with the use of VAR, stating that it 'always goes against us' and that such decisions affect players' emotions and destinies after all their effort. He acknowledged the emergence of young players but called the elimination painful. Despite his criticism, Modric emphasized that Croatia would not use VAR as an excuse for the loss. The match and Modric's comments highlight ongoing controversies around video assistant referee technology in high-stakes football tournaments.
虎扑 - 足球Modric: If roles were reversed, penalty to Portugal would not have been given to Croatia
After Portugal's 2-1 comeback victory over Croatia in the World Cup Round of 16, Croatian captain Luka Modric voiced strong criticism of the penalty decision awarded to Portugal. Modric argued that if the roles were reversed, VAR would not have intervened and Croatia would not have received a penalty. He stated that since VAR's introduction, he has disliked it, claiming it is used incorrectly or selectively. Modric emphasized that VAR should only intervene when a mistake is 200% clear, and that the incident involved both players pulling each other and both falling. He concluded that such a penalty should not decide a match.
虎扑 - 足球Dalić: Three VAR decisions went against Croatia, nothing to blame players for
After Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 in the World Cup Round of 16, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić expressed regret over the loss, stating that three VAR checks all went against his team. He praised his players' efforts, noting they were the better side in the second half and created many chances but failed to score. Dalić congratulated Portugal and said losing this way is hard to accept. He declined to comment on future plans, deferring discussions to a later time.
虎扑 - 足球Modric, Facing His Last Dance: 'He Inspires the Entire World'
The article covers the emotional context of Luka Modric's potential final match for Croatia in the 2026 World Cup. At 40 years old, Modric leads Croatia against Panama in Toronto after a 4-2 loss to England. Teammate Mateo Kovacic and coach Zlatko Dalic praise his character and leadership, calling him an inspiration worldwide. Modric, a Ballon d'Or winner and Real Madrid legend with 28 titles, has not confirmed retirement, but a loss to Panama could end his international career. Croatia will make significant lineup changes to keep their World Cup hopes alive and delay Modric's farewell.
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