Huge VAR call prolongs Ronaldo's last dance but ends Modric's

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Figure caption, Late drama and VAR controversy as Croatia denied equaliser By Neil Johnston BBC Sport journalist at Toronto Stadium Published 8 minutes ago BBC commentator Steve Wilson called it "one of the biggest VAR decisions there has ever been". Trailing 2-1 to Portugal after a dramatic and chaotic second half, Croatia thought they had equalised when Josko Gvardiol tapped home from close range in the 13th minute of stoppage time. They celebrated wildly, while Cristiano Ronaldo, who had earlier scored his first ever World Cup knockout goal for his country, then been substituted, looked crestfallen on the bench. Extra time looked certain. Step forward the video assistant referee - Premier League official Jarred Gillett - as a goal check for offside was announced. The big question was: Had Croatia's Igor Matanovic flicked the ball on in the build-up? If his head had touched the ball, it was offside. If not, the goal would stand. Cue a tense wait as Norwegian referee Espen Eskas watched replay after replay, with TV pictures looking inconclusive. But a spike showed by Snickometer-style technology suggested a touch and the goal was ruled out. It was almost the last kick of the match. The decision sparked chaotic scenes as plastic bottles were thrown on to the pitch by furious Croatia fans as their World Cup dreams were ended in the cruellest fashion. For Croatia's 40-year-old legend Luka Modric it was surely the end of his World Cup career, while Ronaldo's journey continues - just hours after his sister said the tournament was his "last dance" , external . It was a match that had everything. From disallowed goals, a debated penalty, Ronaldo intrigue and VAR controversy, BBC Sport unpicks a remarkable 105 minutes of drama. To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Figure caption, Portugal through to last 16 after dramatic victory over Croatia Portugal beat Croatia in chaotic finish to reach last 16 'It was not a bad decision or a lucky decision' So what exactly did happen in that dramatic finale? The Snickometer - or Snicko - is associated with cricket, but in recent years, football has adopted similar technology. The Trionda match ball, made by Adidas for this year's World Cup, has a microchip in it that can detect when the ball has been touched. It allows precise data, such as every individual touch of the ball with a boot or hand, to be immediately sent to the video assistant referee in real time. Similar technology was used at the 2022 World Cup and 2024 European Championship. Speaking at his post-match news conference, Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic refused to give detailed thoughts about his side being denied a last-gasp equaliser. "I will not comment much about it but I will say the refereeing was very bad," he said. "No fouls, no set-pieces on our side which should have been but that's no reason to t