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Moscow - Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic lamented his side's luck after conceding a controversial penalty awarded by VAR in losing the World Cup final 4-2 to France on Sunday.
READ: As it happened: France 4-2 Croatia
With the score level at 1-1, Argentine referee Nestor Pitana changed his initial decision and awarded a spot-kick, converted by Antoine Griezmann, for handball against Ivan Perisic after viewing television replays.
Despite the decision, Dalic defended VAR as a "good thing for football" but believes his side's luck in Russia finally ran out after penalty shootout wins over Denmark and Russia en route to the final.
"I never comment on referees but in a World Cup final you do not give such a penalty," said Dalic.
"It in no way diminishes France's win. We were a bit unlucky, maybe in the first six games we were favoured by luck and today we weren't.
"I have to congratulate my players, maybe today we played our best game at these championships. Against such a strong side as France you must not make mistakes. We are a bit sad but we must also be proud of what we've done."
Former pundits and players all took to social media to blast the penalty decision led by Peter Schmeichel who said the referee "robbed Croatia" with his decision.
Shambles of a decision... #var
— Robbie Fowler (@Robbie9Fowler) July 15, 2018
And whilst we’re at it... it should never have been a free kick for the first goal
— Robbie Fowler (@Robbie9Fowler) July 15, 2018
1 - Antoine Griezmann's penalty (37:56) was France's first shot of any kind in this match against Croatia. Wait.#WorldCupFinal #WorldCup #FRA #CRO pic.twitter.com/gOBYOMJYXQ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2018
Perisic’s hand is coming down from his jump. He’s literally a foot or two behind when the ball is flicked on. He doesn’t react to the ball, he doesn’t try to make himself bigger, the ball hits his hand. Absolute joke.
— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarrett) July 15, 2018
If you think that’s a pen you’re either French or you’ve never played football. Could ruin a great game that.
— Joey Barton (@Joey7Barton) July 15, 2018
How is Perisic meant to get out of the way of that?
Hope that’s not the key moment.
VAR ????????????how is that deliberate handball !!! #CROFRA
— Steve Parish (@CEO4TAG) July 15, 2018
Deliberate handball ?????? 95% of penalties for handball are not deliberate!
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) July 15, 2018
Congratulations to France on winning the finals, by far the best team in the @FIFAWorldCup 2018 ! Bit harsh on Croatia on the penalty though #WorldCupFinal
— yuvraj singh (@YUVSTRONG12) July 15, 2018
People on my timeline -- and yours, I expect -- split on whether that should have been a penalty. For what it's worth, I'd say no; it clearly wasn't deliberate and Perisic hand wasn't in an unnatural position. Handball guidelines are so ridiculously vague, though. #FRA 2-1 up
— Oliver Kay (@OliverKayTimes) July 15, 2018
