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 talk about the defeat. It was very bad refereeing.
“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, it kills everything within you. We have gone too far with VAR.”
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez was more forthcoming.
“It’s a shame one of the two teams had to lose,” said the Spaniard. “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.”
At the time of the goal, former England defender Matt Upson, speaking to 5 Live, said it was hard to tell in real time whether Matanovic touched it.
Upson said: “That surge of emotion of a last-second equaliser and then it’s whisked away from you. Has he definitely touched that?
“We’re looking at a replay here. Can we guarantee he glances that?
“The spin on the ball doesn’t change, that’s all I know. I don’t think he touches that ball. That’s the first angle I’ve seen of that and I’m not convinced he touches that ball at all.”
Having seen it again, Upson added at full-time: “From what I can see, I don’t see any change in direction of the ball.
“What the telling thing is, is the spin on the ball doesn’t change and it looks like Matanovic has touched that ball but it’s interesting that they’re saying beyond any reasonable doubt he has.
“I can’t quite see that.”
Meanwhile, former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann messaged Mark Chapman, who was presenting BBC One’s coverage of the game, to say: “He was offside when the ball was last played by a team-mate and the ball was deflected by the defender and not deliberately played, so the offside stands.
“Snicko… that 100% proves that he touched it with the flick-on.”
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