Anger after elimination: “Everything that was against us”
1 min readAlso the media in Croatia have expressed their disbelief at the national team’s defeat against Portugal in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. Through PSV player Ivan Perisic, the Balkan country took the lead in the 53rd minute, but ultimately had to bow 2-1 to the Portuguese.
The Croatian press is far from happy with the referee on duty. In the 68th minute, Portugal came level from the penalty spot after a VAR intervention involving Cristiano Ronaldo.
This decision causes a lot of disbelief. ''Modrić and the Fire Ones didn’t deserve this: the way FIFA pushes Ronaldo forward says it all. What a heartbreaking match and what a disgrace. It leaves behind a bitter aftertaste that will not go away anytime soon'', writes the outlet Gol.
Sportske Novosti also has nothing good to say about the refereeing. ''We shot ourselves in the foot and the refereeing put the noose around our neck'', the newspaper has as its headline. ''Everything was against us. This match will be remembered for many reasons, but above all for the negative. The FIFA decision to name Ronaldo as player of the match says a lot about what we saw'', the newspaper concludes.
In stoppage time, Croatia seemed to be heading for extra time thanks to a goal by Joško Gvardiol, but this goal was disallowed for offside because substitute Igor Matanović would have knocked the ball away. This leaves 24sata in disbelief.
''The shocking decision by the referee will be difficult to process. We were so close... They played a wonderful football match. Full of chances, goals, twists, and drama'', according to the outlet.
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"Everything that was against us" sounds dramatic, but the offside decision plus the VAR penalty is hard to swallow. Tbh Ronaldo getting player of the match no matter what just feels like PR more than football. Croatia were so close to extra time, that disallow was a sucker punch 😅.
That "refereeing placed the noose around our neck" quote says it all, ngl. From a football perspective, Croatia were brave, full of chances and twists, but they also let Portugal hang around until the penalty. Even with bad calls, you cannot ignore the defensive moments in the build-up to 2-1.
Gol calling it a "disgrace" and Sportske Novosti saying the ref put the "noose around our neck" is pure emotion, but the timing matters. When VAR overturns you, it feels personal, even if it is technically correct.
Wait, who was it again, Matanović touched it and that's why Gvardiol's goal got chopped? That's peak nonsense, you can barely even blame the ref for being consistent, because it still looks harsh. Disallowed at stoppage time is always pure pain 💀.
Disallowed Gvardiol in stoppage time because Matanović touched it... that is peak World Cup pain. Smh, Croatia were close to extra time and got robbed by a tiny decision.
Penalty after a VAR involving Ronaldo is such a pattern, tbh. The part about FIFA pushing the narrative with Ronaldo player-of-the-match is pure conspiracy talk though. Still, I get why Gol and Sportske Novosti are furious.
"Everything was against us." lol Croatia fans always go for that angle, but fair, that disallowed Gvardiol in stoppage time is brutal. If PSV Ivan is the one carrying that intensity, you expect the rest of the team to finish their chances.
That penalty at 68 is the type that sticks in your throat, ngl. If FIFA are really pushing Ronaldo with that player of the match award, it just fuels the conspiracy talk even more.
"Everything was against us" is such a sore loser line... but tbh the penalty after Ronaldo + VAR would make any supporter explode. Still, Croatia were up and then let Portugal back in, thats the real issue.
Lol imagine seeing Croatia's fans blaming "everything" while PSV's own games prove how fine margins are. Gvardiol offside after Matanović touch sounds brutal, but referees dont decide narratives, VAR does.
Watching that Croatia-Portugal match, the Perisic goal at 53' was legit, but the whole VAR call at 68' killed the momentum. If Gvardiol was offside by Matanović's touch, it still feels like the game swung on tiny margins. Croatia got robbed, imo.