Luka Modrić (foto: Getty Images)
An emotional Luka Modrić questioned key VAR decisions, thanked Croatia's supporters, and refused to confirm whether he had played his final international match.
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Luka Modrić struggled to hide his emotions after Croatia's heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Portugal, delivering a powerful message that reflected both his pride and frustration following another painful World Cup exit.
The Croatian captain left the pitch visibly disappointed after Gonçalo Ramos scored a stoppage-time winner, ending Croatia's tournament in the Round of 32.
With speculation growing that this could have been his final appearance for the national team, Modrić chose not to make any immediate announcement.
"This is not the time to talk about that. You will find out soon," he said.
"We deserved much more"
Reflecting on the match, Modrić believed Croatia produced one of their best performances after the break.
"We can divide the game into two parts. In the first half, we weren't at our best; we sat too deep. But in the second half, we played phenomenally. It was one of our better performances. We could have finished the game much earlier, but we didn't take our chances. Then some things happened that are unbelievable to me. That's football. We deserved much more."
The 40-year-old was particularly frustrated by the decision to disallow Croatia's late equaliser.
"They say Matanović touched the ball, but we've watched the footage, and we can't see any contact. If he didn't touch it, then there was no offside."
Asked about his embrace with Cristiano Ronaldo after the final whistle, Modrić played down the moment.
"Nothing special. We spoke normally."
Strong criticism of VAR
Modrić also questioned the use of VAR, arguing that the technology continues to work against Croatia.
"That penalty... If the situation had been reversed, VAR would never have intervened. I said from the beginning that I wasn't a fan of VAR. It helps in some situations, but too often it's used selectively."
"VAR should intervene only when there is a 200 percent clear mistake. If it's a grey area, it shouldn't get involved. This wasn't a penalty. Both players were pushing each other. You can't decide a match like this with a penalty like that."
Despite his frustration, Modrić refused to let the refereeing overshadow Croatia's performance.
"What happened has happened. We won't change it. But decisions like these shape destinies. They affect players who give everything for the shirt, especially the young ones. Still, we can be proud of how we fought and how we represented Croatia. Especially in the second half. That's the Croatia everyone knows and respects."
"It's never easy to hold back your emotions"
Modrić admitted the defeat ranked among the most painful of his international career, alongside Croatia's dramatic Euro 2008 elimination.
"This one hurts just as much. Football is full of victories and defeats. That's why people love it. The emotions are enormous."
He ended by explaining why so many Croatian players were seen in tears after the final whistle.
"Those emotions show what Croatia means to us. Every match, every victory means everything. When you lose, especially in a major tournament, it's difficult because you know how many people support you. You feel like you've let them down, even though they stand by us. It's not always easy to hold back your emotions."