Zlatko Dalic Expresses Regret for Luka Modric Following Croatia’s World Cup Exit
In a poignant post-match address, Croatian head coach Zlatko Dalic conveyed his sorrow following his team’s 2-1 defeat to Portugal during the round of 32 in the FIFA World Cup. The match, which saw Croatia taking an early lead courtesy of Ivan Perisic just minutes into the second half, ultimately concluded with Portugal mounting a comeback through goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Goncalo Ramos that secured their advancement at Croatia’s expense.
Adding to the drama, Croatia believed they had equalized late in the match with a goal from substitute Josko Gvardiol, but the celebration was cut short when the VAR intervened, disallowing the goal due to an offside earlier in the play. Dalic, visibly frustrated by the decision, remarked, “Please don’t have me speak about the disallowed goal. It’s not up to me; I’ve expressed my thoughts, but I prefer not to delve deeper into analysis.” He further lamented the impact of VAR on the emotional experience of football, stating that these decisions often strip the joy from the game. “It’s difficult to manage with all of this. Football should be just, and the decisions should reflect that, but we may have gone too far with VAR. Croatia has suffered a loss, and we are disheartened, but I extend my congratulations to Portugal,” he added.
Dalic also reflected on the harsh reality of conceding in stoppage time, acknowledging that it is particularly challenging to allow a goal in the dying minutes of a match. “We should’ve managed the game differently. The first half was filled with opportunities, and while it was dramatic and emotional, that’s just part of life and football,” he remarked.
After finishing as finalists in the 2018 World Cup and taking third place in the previous tournament in Qatar, this exit marks Croatia’s earliest elimination since 2014’s group stage exit. Questions surrounding the future of captain Luka Modric, who is likely to have played his last World Cup match, were inevitable. “This was probably his last World Cup, and I regret it ended this way—very sadly with a defeat,” Dalic said. “Luka was again one of our key players in the second half, demonstrating his quality and leadership. I genuinely feel sorrow for this conclusion to his World Cup journey.”
To conclude his statement, Dalic expressed gratitude to the Croatian fans, emphasizing their support at Toronto Stadium. “The presence of our fans was incredible, and it really highlighted the beauty of football. I hope we can retain this sentiment and not allow the sport to become merely a business,” he said.
