India, July 4 -- A contentious Fifa World Cup 2026 knockout match on Thursday saw Croatia bow out of the tournament after its stoppage-time equaliser against Portugal, netted by Osko Gvardiol, was ruled offside.

After the goal, Portuguese players argued that Croatia's Igor Matanovic had touched the ball while in an offside position.

The video assistant referee (VAR) and a pitchside review by referee Espen Eskas indeed found that Matanovic had touched the ball - likely with just the tip of his hair - and the contact was confirmed by 'connected ball technology'.

The controversy, which prompted Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic's warning that the use of technologies risked "taking the joy out of football", has once again pivoted focus to VAR and...