Dalić: We didn't deserve to go out, but football can be cruel

Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić has defended his team after their Round of 16 exit at the 2026 World Cup, insisting they matched Portugal and created enough chances to stay in the tournament. “I’m sorry, but especially in the second half we were better than the Portuguese, created plenty of opportunities, played well, yet conceded two goals. So many emotions. I have nothing to complain about – the lads fought, gave everything, but…” Dalić said after the match. The veteran coach stressed that Croatia had several clear openings before the decisive moments. “We had many good chances to make it 2–0. It’s tough – we didn’t deserve to be eliminated, we were level with Portugal,” he added. Croatia’s World Cup journey ended in a tight contest where, according to Dalić, their efforts went unrewarded despite a strong performance and a belief that the scoreline flattered their opponents.