Croatia bowed out of the 2026 World Cup in controversial fashion on Thursday evening as they had a last-minute equaliser against Portugal ruled out.

Croatia, who went into their last 32 match with Portugal at Toronto Stadium as the underdogs, took the lead shortly after half-time when Ivan Perisic broke the deadlock.

Portugal battled back and a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo and a goal from Goncalo Ramos turned the match on its head.

Croatia thought they had netted a last-gasp equaliser to take the game to extra-time when Josko Gvardiol found the back of the net from close range.

However, after a lengthy VAR review, the goal was ruled out. It was deemed that Igor Matanovic made the slightest of touches on a cross that fell to Mario Pasalic in the build-up, who was in an offside position, meaning the goal was chalked off.

Igor Matanovic Speaks Out After Disallowed Goal

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

The decision to rule out the goal sparked outrage, with FIFA feeling the need to release a statement explaining exactly why it was chalked off.

Matanovic gave a very honest interview after the match, confessing that he thought he made contact with the ball and that the goal was rightly disallowed. He said, per Abola:

He added: “It’s difficult to find the right words after the game. We played very well in the second half and deserved more. I haven’t seen the penalty yet, but if this is given… Three goals, offside, a post… I have no words, we were very unlucky today.

“When I came on, I had a good feeling on the pitch. We played a very good game, but this is going to hurt. We have to move on, keep attacking and think about the European Championship.”

Matanovic, who plays for Bundesliga club SC Freiburg, is being praised by football fans on Reddit for his honesty.

“Damn, rare to see honesty from players like this,” one fan said, while another commented: “A stand up guy. No ego here, just pure love of the sport.”

A third wrote: “Honesty in the big moments is rare, all respect to him,” while a fourth said: “Class act. Respect.”

Luka Modric Rages at VAR After Portugal 2-1 Croatia

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Croatia captain Luka Modric unleashed a stunning rant about VAR following the match. He said, via Sportske Novosti:

“Some things didn’t go our way. That penalty… If it were the other way around, VAR would never have been involved.

“VAR should intervene if it’s 200 per cent a mistake, but if it’s not, if it’s in the grey zone, you have no say in it. There’s no point in calling VAR.

“This is no penalty. Both teams are replaying, pushing, Vlašić didn’t pull it, he held it, and both of them fell. That’s why you can’t judge a penalty like that in a game like this.

“That’s why I say, it has to be used if the mistake is 200 per cent. If you can treat something this way or that, you have no say in it.

“That annoys me and always works to our detriment. What is, it is, let’s move on, we won’t complain about it, but of course, some things bother me because fate decides.

“They decide the mood for everything you do, what you give up, you tear yourself apart, you fight. There are young players who come here, and then you do something like this to them… You are to blame for that, and it is always to our detriment.”

Portugal will play Spain in a mouthwatering last 16 clash. The match will take place at Dallas Stadium on Monday, July 6.

Arsenal are ready to strengthen their midfield this summer to bolster their title-winning squad, and Mikel Arteta has personally identified a top target that he wants.

The Gunners claimed their first Premier League title in 22 years by finishing seven points above Man City, while they also reached the Champions League and Carabao Cup finals, where they suffered defeat to City and Paris Saint-Germain.

Now Arteta is ready to push his side forward to another level, and Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes has emerged as the man he wants at the Emirates Stadium above any other.

Romano: Arteta Pushing for Guimaraes Deal

via Reuters

Guimaraes, who has been described as ‘world-class’, has been heavily linked with a move away from the Magpies this summer, and is currently shining with Brazil at the World Cup, registering four assists to help them into the Last 16 of the tournament.

Arsenal have already had an initial bid worth around £55m rejected by Newcastle for the Brazilian star, and reports suggest that the north London club are preparing a new £60m move to try and tempt them into a sale.

But speaking in his latest YouTube video, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that it’s Arteta who is the driving force behind the deal, and he expects it to be very difficult to complete.

“Obviously, Newcastle sold Sandro Tonali, Newcastle sold Anthony Gordon, so now Newcastle don’t have any intention to let Bruno Guimarães go,” he said.

“At the same time, Arsenal had been rejected, £55m. Mikel Arteta is a big fan of the player, so what I can tell you, in addition to all of this, is that he really, really likes the player. Mikel Arteta was driving this interest for Bruno Guimaraes internally.

“It’s not the first time Arsenal go for him. Even in the past, they were considering the possibility to go for Bruno Guimaraes, [he has] always been a player appreciated by Arteta. But now with Newcastle, it’s not going to be an easy one at all, because Newcastle again made money with Gordon, made money with Tonali, and they already told Bruno Guimaraes, and they told people close to him that they want to keep the player, so it’s not going to be easy at all for Arsenal to get it done.”

Guimaraes to Arsenal Would Be Game-Changer

via Reuters

In the 2025/26 season, Arsenal’s midfield of Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice was run into the ground by Arteta, to the point where he opted to use Myles Lewis-Skelly during the run-in.

Christian Norgaard and Mikel Merino also provided other options during the season, but the addition of a new top-level midfield star would be a game-changing signing for the Gunners, and would help to take them to the next level.

Newcastle, obviously, don’t want to lose yet another star, but cash is king in football these days, and Arsenal have the resources to get a deal over the line if they stump up a fee that is big enough.

Piers Morgan has slammed BBC Sport’s commentators following comments made about Cristiano Ronaldo during Portugal’s 2026 World Cup clash against Croatia on Thursday night.

Ronaldo, playing at his sixth World Cup finals, scored his first ever World Cup knockout stage goal in Portugal’s 2-1 win at the Toronto Stadium. The 41-year-old had a well-taken goal ruled out for offside on the hour-mark but broke his knockout stage duck minutes later when Portugal were awarded a penalty.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has blown hot and cold at this summer’s showpiece international tournament, cut a frustrated figure when he was subbed off in the 81st minute, with the scores locked at 1-1.

However, Goncalo Ramos fired Portugal through to the last 16, where they’ll face neighbours Spain next week, with the winning goal in the fourth minute of stoppage-time.

Croatia thought they’d sent the Round of 32 tie to extra-time when Josko Gvardiol bundled home from close range in the 13th minute of stoppage-time, but the dramatic equaliser was controversially ruled following a VAR review. FIFA have since released a statement explaining why the goal was disallowed.

BBC Sport

Over on X (Twitter), Piers Morgan has accused BBC Sport commentators Steve Wilson and Stephen Warnock of “trashing” Portugal’s all-time leading goalscorer throughout the Croatia match.

The broadcaster, who makes no secret of his high admiration for Ronaldo, posted on X: “The BBC commentators in this Portugal-Croatia game have spent most of the match trashing Cristiano and saying he should come off. Then he has a brilliant goal narrowly disallowed, and scores a superb penalty. And they’re STILL saying he should do more. Pathetic.”

After Ronaldo was subbed off by Roberto Martinez and replaced by Ruben Neves, co-commentator Stephen Warnock, the former Liverpool and England defender, said: “Cristiano Ronaldo is not happy. He is not happy at all.

BBC Sport

“Take the name out of it, it’s the right decision. He hasn’t affected the game enough. Yes, he scored the penalty. The link-up play, the pressing, it is not there from him.

The commentators also sounded surprised when Ronaldo wasn’t one of the four players substituted in the 61st minute of the match.

Lead commentator Steve Wilson asked Warnock for his opinion on Ronaldo continuing, to which the former Premier League player replied: “Interesting. Very interesting. Now he’s got a player up alongside him, will that change the dynamic of how he plays?”

Wilson added: “I have to say, I’m surprised that Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes have been pulled, but they have.”

Despite the goal, Ronaldo didn’t have his best game. Goal handed the legendary forward a 6/10 rating, commenting: “Didn’t play particularly well, scored a wonderful goal that was ruled offside, buried a pen, got subbed. A really weird game.”