Luka Modric criticizes refereeing following Croatia's match against Portugal

Following Croatia's elimination from the tournament by Portugal, Luka Modric expressed strong dissatisfaction with the officiating. Modric specifically challenged a penalty decision that led to Portugal's equalizer, arguing that both players were holding each other and that such a call was inappropriate for a game of this magnitude. The 40-year-old midfielder suggested that the VAR system is applied selectively based on the size of the team. He also noted that Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic complained about a disallowed goal during injury time. While Modric admitted that Croatia did not perform well in the first half, he praised his team's second-half performance as one of their best. He concluded that while they missed opportunities to secure the win earlier, the team remains proud of their effort. Modric reiterated his long-standing skepticism regarding the inconsistent use of VAR in professional football.