After the match, he spoke to the media.

“We can look at the match in two parts. In the first half we weren't at our level, we sat too deep, but in the second half we played a phenomenal game, one of our better performances. We could have finished it earlier, but we didn't manage to. We missed too many chances and then some things happened that are unbelievable to me. It is what it is. It's difficult to say anything sensible right after a match like this when emotions are still running high. I don't want to say something wrong. We can be proud of how we played in the second half. We deserved more, but... that's football.”

On the disallowed goal late in the game...

“They say he touched the ball, but we've watched the replays and videos and nowhere can you see that he touched it. If he didn't touch the ball, then it's not offside.”

On the future...

“It's not the time to talk about that now. You'll know everything soon enough.”

On the disappointment of a missed opportunity...

“We deserved much more. Some things didn't go in our favour. That penalty – if the situation had been reversed, VAR would never have intervened. I said from the beginning, when VAR was first introduced, that I didn't like it. For some things it's useful, but it's either being used incorrectly or selectively, depending on the size of the team or whatever else. If it's a 200 per cent mistake, then you intervene. If it's not, if it's in a grey area, then there's no reason to get involved. VAR shouldn't be calling the referee because today's incident was never a penalty. They were both holding and pushing each other. He didn't pull him down; they were both holding each other and both fell. You can't award a penalty for that in a match like this. That's why I say VAR should only be used when the mistake is absolutely clear. If it's something that can be interpreted either way, then you stay out of it. That's what frustrates me, and it always seems to go against us. But it is what it is. We won't make excuses. Still, things like that bother me because they decide destinies, they affect your mood and everything you've worked for, sacrificed for and fought for. There are young players coming through, and then something like this happens, and it hurts. And again, it always seems to go against us. But that's enough about that. We can be proud of how we played, how we fought and how we represented Croatia, especially in the second half. This is the Croatia everyone knows, the reason why we are so respected and loved around the world. We move on now. We reset and keep going.”

On comparisons between the defeats in Vienna and Toronto...

“It's hard to imagine anything being more difficult than Vienna. This is certainly tough, and so was the defeat at the last EURO. But that's football. Defeats and victories are part of what we do. That's why it's so interesting and why everyone loves it. There are so many emotions, it's a rollercoaster, up and down, and so much can happen in a short period of time.”

On the tears of his teammates...

“Mateo and Peri were crying, and so were others. That shows the emotions and what Croatia means to us. It shows how much we live for success, for every match and every victory. It shows how happy we are and how fulfilled we feel when we're here. When you lose, especially at a major tournament, it hurts. It hits you hard because we know how much Croatia means to us and how many people follow and love us. Then, when you lose, you feel bad. You feel as if you've perhaps let down the people who support you and stand behind you the way they support us. It's difficult, and sometimes it's not easy to hold back your emotions, as everyone could see with Mateo, Peri and the others.”