Before England’s goal in minute 45+2 against Norway, the sensor in the Connected Ball showed no peak in the 'heartbeat of the ball' when in the air, and therefore no evidence that the ball touched the overhead wire and changed the movement of the ball.
At 37, Ronaldo got benched in a quarter-final match vs Morocco. At 39, Messi is competing for the golden boot vs prime Mbappe and prime Haaland.
We know who the GOAT is.
🚨🗣️ Joe Cole: “I think it’s one of the worst decisions at a World Cup ever.”
🗣️Gary Lineker: “They came out with a hair-strand touch.”
🗣️Micah Richards: “It’s ridiculous to rule that offside.”
Croatia were robbed in broad daylight 😭
Luka Modrić at the World Cup:
🏟️ 23 appearances
⚽ 2 goals
🎯 2 assists
🥈 Silver medal (2018)
🏆 Golden Ball (2018)
🥉 Bronze medal (2022)
The Greatest Midfielder of All Time. 🇭🇷🐐
PERISICCCCCCCCCCCC. ONE OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT FOOTBALLERS OF MY LIFETIME. POST-ACL TEAR IN HIS LATE THIRTIES. THESE ARE THE TYPE OF FOOTBALLERS WHO YOU STAND, APPLAUD AND PRAISE.
🎙️ **Reporter:** *Mateo, what's your reaction to Croatia's defeat?*
🗣️ **Mateo Kovačić:** "It's heartbreaking. We gave everything, but it's difficult to accept a result like this."
🎙️ **Reporter:** *What did you make of the penalty awarded to Portugal?*
🗣️ **Mateo Kovačić:** "For me, it wasn't a penalty. I still don't understand that decision. At this level, moments like that change everything."
🎙️ **Reporter:** *And the disallowed goal at the end?*
🗣️ **Mateo Kovačić:** "I've watched it back, and I honestly don't think it was offside. We thought we'd found the equaliser, only for it to be taken away. That's the hardest part to accept."
🎙️ **Reporter:** *Do you feel Croatia were unlucky tonight?*
🗣️ **Mateo Kovačić:** "I respect Portugal, they're a fantastic team. But if I'm being honest, we'll leave this stadium feeling football didn't decide the outcome. Certain decisions did.
That's what hurts the most."
🚨 Jürgen Klopp on Croatia–Portugal late drama:
“I’m really struggling to understand what we just witnessed. Croatia score in the final minute — a moment of pure emotion — and it’s taken away. I honestly don’t see why that goal doesn’t stand.
When decisions are this big, they must be clear. This one just doesn’t feel right. It feels like something has been taken from the players, the fans, the game itself.
FIFA and the referees have to do better. I really feel for Croatia — they deserved that moment.” #PORCRO
Zlatan Ibrahimović blasts the referee and VAR after Croatia's last-minute goal against Portugal was ruled out:
🗣️ “That is daylight robbery. Absolute daylight robbery. Don't tell me football is better because of decisions like that. The referee and VAR have stolen the biggest moment of Croatia's World Cup.
If you need five minutes, endless replays, slow motion and lines drawn across a screen to find an offside, then it isn't a clear mistake. The referee has hidden behind VAR instead of having the courage to make a football decision.
Croatia earned that goal with heart, courage and belief. They celebrated, millions celebrated with them, and then a group of officials sitting in a room erased all of that. That's not justice that's killing the emotion of football.
This is the FIFA World Cup, not a science experiment. Fans don't travel across the world to watch officials freeze frames and measure millimetres. They come to witness unforgettable moments, and tonight one of those moments was stolen.
I don't blame Portugal I blame the referee and VAR. Croatia deserved to have that goal stand, and instead they're going home wondering how football's biggest tournament ended with the officials becoming the main characters. For me, that's one of the worst VAR decisions you'll ever see.”
Croatia completely shut CR7 and Bruno down, played better football, fought ‘til the death, equalized against all odds.
But it doesn’t matter.
FIFA always wins.
🇭🇷 Happy Independence Day, Croatia!
⚽ A consistent force on the European stage, @hns_cff continue to build an inspiring legacy.
🏆 We can’t wait for Osijek to host the 2027 UEFA Women’s Futsal EURO.