VAR interventions mark Portugal’s victory
Portugal progressed to the World Cup Round of 16 following an incident-filled match against Croatia, which saw a record four goals disallowed. The game featured multiple interventions from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), a factor that Portugal manager Roberto Martínez acknowledged, stating there were no “lucky calls” and that all decisions were correct.
For the first time in the tournament’s history, four goals were overturned in a single match. Croatia had three goals disallowed, while Cristiano Ronaldo also had an effort chalked off. The final disallowed goal came in the last seconds when Josko Gvardiol believed he had scored an equalizer, only for it to be ruled offside due to a snick-o-meter detecting a slight touch from a teammate’s head.
The use of a new chip within the match ball provides concrete evidence for referee decisions, particularly in crucial moments. This technology was cited as a reason for the accuracy of the VAR interventions during the match.
Reactions from team managers
Roberto Martínez expressed his admiration for Croatia and their sportsmanship, emphasizing that the decisions made by VAR were clear and accurate. He noted that the penalty awarded to Portugal was also clear, regretting that one of the two teams had to lose but maintaining that there were no incorrect decisions.
Croatia‘s manager, Zlatko Dalic, also praised his opponents but struggled to hide his frustration with the outcome. He described the difficulty of conceding a goal in added time, then scoring what seemed to be an equalizer, only for VAR to overturn it. Dalic remarked that while VAR can be helpful, it often “kills the emotion” and makes it challenging for players to cope with the decisions.
Dalic suggested that football may have gone too far with VAR, stating that the decisions take the joy out of the game. He concluded by saying that Croatia lost the match and he did not wish to discuss it further.
Ronaldo and Modric make history
Cristiano Ronaldo made history by becoming the oldest player to participate in a knockout stage match at the World Cup at 41 years and 147 days old. He also be….
Ronaldo and Luka Modric, both former teammates at Real Madrid, also made history together as the first two players aged 40 or older to play in the same match. After the game, Ronaldo shared moments with Modric, who is expected to retire from international football after participating in his fifth World Cup.
Dalic acknowledged Modric‘s contributions, stating that he was a key player who showed his quality and character, leading Croatia until the end. Ronaldo also paid tribute to his late former teammate Diogo Jota, who died a year ago, by wearing a No. 21 shirt after the match, describing it as a “special moment” and a “coincidence of life.”
With their victory in the Round of 32, Portugal is set to face Spain in the Round of 16. Spain secured their spot by defeating Austria 3-0 earlier on Thursday, and the upcoming match is scheduled for July 6 at 3 p.m. ET at Dallas Stadium.
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Source: theguardian.com
As Latest News UK's Sports Reporter, Hannah Whitfield reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name covering the county circuit and Team GB at two Commonwealth Games. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from Loughborough University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Hannah lives in Bristol, where she plays club tennis and coaches a junior side. “Sport is at its best when you let the athletes tell the story.”