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VAR denies Gvardiol late goal as Croatia loses to Portugal in World Cup

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 3, 2026, 1:33 AM

Last updated Jul 3, 2026

VAR denies Gvardiol late goal as Croatia loses to Portugal in World Cup

Summary

Croatia was eliminated by Portugal in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup after a last-minute equalizer from Josko Gvardiol was disallowed. The decision stemmed from a VAR review that determined the ball had touched Igor Matanovic, making Mario Pasalic offside when he assisted Gvardiol. Following the ruling, Croatia fans protested by throwing water bottles on the pitch, delaying the restart of the match. The final whistle confirmed Portugal's progression to the last-16, ending Croatia's campaign and the World Cup career of captain Luka Modric.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Gvardiol's goal ruled out due to a controversial VAR decision.
•Croatia fans protested by throwing bottles onto the pitch.
•Portugal scored twice, with Goncalo Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo finding the net.
•Mateo Kovacic was emotional after the match, reflecting team disappointment.
•The result sends Portugal into a last-16 tie with Spain.

Latest Updates

1:33 AMYahoo Sports — Why was Josko Gvardiol’s goal disallowed vs Portugal? Croatia fans throw bottles on pitch amid VAR controversy

What they're saying

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Gvardiol’s last-gasp equaliser against Portugal was ruled out after the Snicko technology revealed a touch barely noticeable to the human eye
— Yahoo Sports

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