Luka Modrić, captain of the Croatian national team, expressed considerable disappointment following their elimination by Portugal in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. Beyond the outcome of the match, the veteran midfielder voiced dissatisfaction regarding several refereeing decisions he felt significantly impacted Croatia’s performance. Modrić characterized the game as having distinct phases.
He stated, “We can see the match in two parts; in the first part, we were not at our best level. We were quite subdued, but in the second part, we played a truly phenomenal match. One of our best matches.” He continued by reflecting on the game’s trajectory, noting that while they could have secured a victory earlier, it proved impossible.
He added that the team conceded multiple goals, followed by what he described as “unbelievable things.” Modrić acknowledged the difficulty of providing a definitive assessment immediately after the game, stating, “It is difficult to say anything smart now, still waiting for…” His comments highlighted both the team’s fluctuating performance throughout the match and his dissatisfaction with certain officiating calls that ultimately determined the result.
Topics: #match #not #part
