FIFA World Cup 2026: Croatia coach Dalic slams 'bad refereeing' in 2-1 loss to Portugal
Croatia's national football team was eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a 2-1 loss to Portugal. Coach Zlatko Dalic criticized the officiating, specifically regarding VAR decisions, while acknowledging the end of an era for captain Luka Modric.
Why it matters
The match marks a significant transition point for the Croatian national team and highlights ongoing debates regarding VAR in international sports.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic was unhappy with what he called the "bad refereeing" in his team's 2-1 loss to Portugal in their round of 32 clash on Thursday (July 2, 2026) that eliminated them from the World Cup but said he did not want to use it as an excuse.
The article balances the coach's subjective complaints with objective match outcomes.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in