Martínez stood firm against claims his team's progress to the World Cup last 16 was anything less than earned, despite Croatia being denied a record-breaking four goals in their dramatic defeat. The Portugal manager pointed firmly at the advanced technology embedded within the footballs as the reason for VAR's intervention on an unprecedented scale.
The match saw three Croatian goals disallowed alongside one for Portugal, including a heart-stopping 103rd-minute equaliser that was ultimately ruled offside. Martínez praised Croatia's sporting attitude but remained resolute in his defence of the VAR decisions. "The balls now have a chip in them – it's crystal clear why VAR intervened," he said, adding there was no bad decision or lucky call to be had.
Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic struggled to contain his frustration, despite commending his opponents' spirit. He highlighted the emotional toll on his players after a series of gut-wrenching decisions – particularly in the final moments when they thought they'd drawn level. "It's incredibly tough to handle; the lads are finding it hard to cope," Dalic admitted. While acknowledging VAR can be beneficial, he argued it often strips away the joy from the beautiful game.
Despite the VAR controversy, Cristiano Ronaldo made history with a penalty in the knockout match – becoming the oldest player at 41 to score in such a scenario. Post-match, Ronaldo shared an emotional moment with Luka Modric, who is widely expected to bid farewell to international football after his country's exit. Dalic expressed regret over Modric's likely final World Cup, praising his captain's leadership until the very end.
Ronaldo also paid tribute to his late former teammate Diogo Jota by donning a No 21 shirt after the final whistle – a poignant gesture on what he described as an "unbelievable" and "special moment". The coincidence of the date had been discussed within the Portuguese squad beforehand, adding poignancy to Ronaldo's heartfelt gesture.