Croatia Eliminated, Baturina Expresses Disappointment: "There's No Voice in the Dressing Room"
July 5, 2026 · Global
Croatia was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after losing to Portugal. Martin Baturina, the Croatian midfielder, expressed his disappointment and described the atmosphere in the dressing room as very quiet.
Croatia was forced to say goodbye to the 2026 World Cup after losing to Portugal with a score of 2-1 in the round of 16. Martin Baturina, Croatian national team midfielder, described the atmosphere in the dressing room after the defeat. "There was no sound, no one spoke," Baturina said in a post-match interview. "It's very difficult to accept an elimination like this," he continued.
Baturina considered that Portugal performed better in the first half, but Croatia managed to recover in the second half and showed a better game. "In the second half, we were really able to play well and change the direction of the match. However, the referee's decision to cancel our goal made things even more difficult," he said.
Disappointment was also felt regarding the goal disallowed for Josko Gvardiol in the 103rd minute due to an alleged foul. "It's an unfair way to go out. People compare this to our elimination against Türkiye in 2008, but I was a kid and don't remember it," he added.
Baturina expressed the feelings within Zlatko Dalic's team, "In the dressing room, there is sadness. It hurts to be eliminated like this. We have to raise our heads and look forward, because this day too will pass."
This defeat also marks Luka Modric's last possible appearance at the World Cup, considering he is 40 years old. Baturina paid tribute to the team captain, "He is everything for us, the captain and the best player. In this match, he appeared as the best on the field. I don't know his decision to continue playing or not, but he can still do it, considering his extraordinary performance."
Finally, Baturina commented on the fans' support, "The atmosphere was great, I hope we have made them proud. I'm sorry it all ended like this, but this is football. I felt we could beat them; there is always confidence to beat anyone. We knew they were a great team, but in the second half we showed our true quality. We played bravely, but didn't get any rewards. When you have three goals disallowed against Portugal, it shows that we have played well. Maybe this is a sign to continue forward. For me, I will give my best in every practice and match.