Zlatko Dalic, the manager of the Croatian national football team, is facing potential disciplinary action from FIFA after his vehement criticism of the officiating in Croatia's dramatic World Cup loss to Portugal. The match, which ended 1-0 to Portugal, was decided by a contentious VAR call that disallowed a stoppage-time equaliser from Josko Gvardiol.
Controversial Decision Sparks Outrage
The incident occurred in the 90+5th minute when Gvardiol found the back of the net, seemingly securing a draw for Croatia. However, the goal was ruled out after a lengthy VAR review. The official explanation was that the ball's internal sensors detected a touch from Igor Matanovic during the build-up, placing Mario Pasalic—who provided the assist—in an offside position. The decision left Croatian players and staff furious, with several players visibly emotional on the pitch.
Portugal had taken the lead earlier in added time, meaning the disallowed goal ultimately sealed Croatia's elimination. Portugal will now face Spain in the round of 16, while Croatia's World Cup campaign ends in heartbreak.
Dalic's Fiery Post-Match Comments
Speaking after the match, Dalic did not hold back. "It was very bad refereeing. But Croatia lost. I'm not going to find any excuses. We could have won this earlier," he said. He added, "You were able to see to what extent emotions have literally been killed, and altogether, these decisions take you back and actually take the joy out of football. I'm not saying that sometimes VAR can't be of help, but it kills the emotions, it kills everything, it kills what you are experiencing, and it's not easy to deal with all of this."
Such strong remarks on the standard of refereeing could see Dalic reprimanded by FIFA. According to FIFA's disciplinary code, comments that constitute improper conduct may result in a fine or other sanctions. The governing body is expected to review his statements before deciding on any punishment.
End of an Era for Luka Modric
The defeat carried added emotional weight as it likely marked the final World Cup appearance for Croatian legend Luka Modric. The 40-year-old midfielder, who made his World Cup debut in Germany 20 years ago, has been one of the tournament's standout performers over his career. Dalic paid tribute to the veteran, saying, "Well, this was probably his last World Cup. And I'm sorry that it ended this way."
Modric's illustrious World Cup journey includes leading Croatia to the final in 2018 and a third-place finish in 2022. His departure signals the end of a golden generation for Croatian football.
Future of Croatian Football
Despite the disappointment, Dalic expressed optimism about the team's future. "I'm not afraid for the future of the Croatian team. We have a lot of young players coming in and some of them have shown the quality today. We've come to an end of a wonderful era. And some new beginnings await us. God knows what will happen in the next World Cup, but we'll talk about it in Croatia," he stated.
Croatia's next international assignment will be in the Nations League, with attention also turning towards Euro 2028 qualifying, which begins in early 2027. For now, the focus remains on processing a painful exit and the potential fallout from Dalic's comments.
