Last waltz for two greats

Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric after the match

Two of the world’s great football players, rivals for many years, came together for the last time and parted company friends for life as Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in their World Cup knock-out match at Toronto in Canada on Friday.

Although Luka Modric and his Croatia team lost, the 41 year old Cristiano Ronaldo reserved his celebrations of Portugal’s entry into the last 16 as both men played against and hugged each other for the last time after a packed venue savoured an occasion to remember.

Supporters of Croatia were sent into over-the-moon celebrations after their team scored what looked like a goal in extra time to draw level 2-2 after Ronaldo landed in a penalty for Portugal to surge into a 2-1 lead.

But the agony and ecstasy associated with high profile events had played its part as Croatia’s equaliser goal was declared off-side by the television referee or what is called VAR.

Modric at 40 being the sporting gentleman he is, took the overturned goal in his stride showing no aggressive dissent other than a little shake of the head in moments when any other player or team would have broken down unable to come to grips with the VAR ruling. While Modric was left to think about his days ahead as a probable retired football great having played in 23 World Cup games, Ronaldo had a lifeline to continue with his exploits in the last 16 as Portugal will next meet Spain in what is expected to be unpredictable by way of a winner.

Ronaldo is currently playing in a record sixth World Cup and according to analysts the ace Portugal striker showed signs that it would obviously be his last event on the global stage.

Croatia’s football head Zlatko Dalic was quoted as claiming the refereeing was not up to the mark in drawing reference to his team’s goal that was declared off-side.

“I will not comment much about it but I will say the refereeing was very bad.  You were able to see to what extent emotions had been killed and, altogether all these decisions take you back and actually take the joy out of football. VAR kills emotions. We have gone too far with VAR,” Dalic was quoted as saying after the match.

His Portuguese counterpart Roberto Martinez said the opposite. “It’s a shame one of the two teams had to lose. But there is no bad decision or lucky decision. It was a clear moment. The balls now have a chip and the sensor shows the ball was touched (and the player was off-side)”, said Martinez.