Josko Gvardiol has opened up about Croatia's dramatic exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in a last-16 match against Portugal, where his late equalizer was controversially ruled out after a VAR check. In an interview with The Athletic, the defender described the emotional chaos following the referee's decision that the ball touched Igor Matanovic's hair, meaning offside and the end of the tournament for the Vatreni.
What happened with the controversial offside call?
Gvardiol entered the pitch only in the 92nd minute of that match, and Portugal went 2-1 up two minutes later. Croatia was on the brink of elimination. "In that moment it was a chaos of emotions," Gvardiol said. "At the beginning I was probably the happiest person in the world, then we all realised that it was offside because of the hair and everything..."
After a lengthy VAR delay, the goal was disallowed. Gvardiol believes the situation was silly, but also that TV replays did not show all the ball contacts during the action. This event ended Croatia's hope for a third consecutive World Cup medal, after bronze in 2022 and silver in 2018. The current state of the squad can be followed on our squad page.
How did Gvardiol deal with his injury before the tournament?
Gvardiol arrived at the 2026 World Cup without optimal fitness, having missed the second half of the 2025/26 season with Manchester City due to a broken leg. The pain from that injury, he said, will take a year to fully heal. Despite this, he decided to play for the national team. His decision confirms his commitment to the Croatian shirt, and his tournament statistics can be seen on the stats page.
His preparations for the tournament also included unusual activities, like training with Croatian green berets on Mount Velebit last summer. This year, however, preparations were more sedate. He recently signed a new five-year contract with City, despite interest from other major European clubs.
What does he expect from the new season at Manchester City?
Gvardiol faces a new challenge at the club following Pep Guardiola's departure. He says it was perfect timing for a change, as the long-time manager deserved a rest. Although John Stones and Bernardo Silva have left the club, Gvardiol believes new manager Enzo Maresca is the right person to lead the team forward.
Only a few players at City have been there longer than him, and at 24 years old he has become one of the pillars of the team. During pre-season he played a leading role, hinting he could be central to Maresca's build-up play. Gvardiol is confident he will adapt quickly to the new style, which involves more long and diagonal balls, suiting his qualities.
What is next for the Croatia national team?
The experience of the 2026 World Cup left a bitter taste, but Gvardiol and his teammates are already looking ahead. Croatia will soon face new challenges in the qualifiers for UEFA Euro 2028. The schedule of upcoming matches can be found on our fixtures page. The generation led by captain Luka Modrić still has ambitions, and young players like Gvardiol are taking on increasing responsibility. Their next test will be in the Nations League later this autumn.
