Deep into the 13th minute of stoppage time, Josko Gvardiol rose to meet a cross and powered the ball into the net, sparking wild celebrations among Croatia’s players and fans. They believed they had snatched a 2-2 draw against Portugal in a World Cup knockout match in Toronto — but the goal was immediately subjected to a VAR review.
The technology that sealed their fate was unlike anything seen in a football World Cup before. Using a cricket-style ‘Snicko’ system embedded in the adidas Trionda match ball, officials detected that Croatia striker Igor Matanovic had made the faintest contact with the ball in the build-up — a touch so slight that even Matanovic himself was uncertain. “Honestly, I think I felt a slight contact with my hair,” the forward admitted in a raw 11-word comment after the game. He asked the referee, who told him: “They have a chip in the ball, that there was a slight contact and that, therefore, it was offside.”
“Croatia's stoppage-time equaliser ruled out by 'Snicko' ball-chip technology after Igor Matanovic admits slight contact.”
FIFA confirmed that “IMU sensors housed within the Trionda ball are capable of determining any slight contact, displayed to viewers in the broadcast as a ‘heartbeat graphic’, and allowing officials an unprecedented level of data to make fast, accurate decisions.” The data provided by Connected Ball Technology proved contact had been made by Matanovic, and the goal was disallowed.
Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic was scathing about the overall officiating. “It was very bad refereeing,” he said, arguing his team “should have been given more free kicks.” But he refused to use the technology as an excuse. “Croatia lost. I’m not going to find any excuses. We could have won this earlier.”
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez had no doubts. “This is one of those examples that technology helps the game because it was offside,” he said, backing the decision that ensured his team’s 2-1 victory stood.
The defeat means Croatia exit the tournament, while Portugal advance to the last-16 stage. They will face reigning European champions Spain in Dallas on Monday evening — a fixture that now carries an extra edge after this extraordinary piece of drama.
For Croatia, the pain was captured in Matanovic’s hollow words: “Three goals, offside, a post… I have no words, we were very unlucky today.”