Croatia's Igor Matanovic praised for what he said after controversial VAR call against Portugal

Igor Matanovic has admitted he made "slight contact" with the ball in the controversial incident that led to Croatia's late goal against Portugal being disallowed.

Roberto Martinez's Portugal secured their place in the last 16 of this summer's World Cup as goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Goncalo Ramos sealed a 2-1 win over Croatia on Thursday evening.

Croatia, however, will feel hard done by after they thought a stoppage-time equaliser from Josko Gvardiol had got them back into the game, only for it to be ruled out following a lengthy VAR review.

After a cross was played in from the left-hand side, it initially looked like Matanovic had missed his header. Seconds later, the ball hit Portugal's Renato Veiga and bounced into the path of Mario Pasalic.

Pasalic went on to assist Gvardiol but minutes later, a review deemed that sensors in the Adidas Trionda ball had detected a slight touch from Matanovic, therefore making Pasalic offside in the build-up.

It was proven that contact was made by Matanovic in the build up to the goal against Portugal. Image credit: FIFA

FIFA soon confirmed that sensors in the ball had detected a touch from Matanovic.

"According to the data provided by Connected Ball Technology housed within the Adidas ball Trionda, the official match ball of the FIFA World Cup, it was proven that contact was made by Croatia's Igor Matanovic in the build-up to the goal against Portugal, allowing the referee to correctly determine offside and disallow the goal.

"IMU sensors housed within the Trionda ball are capable of determining any slight contact, displayed to viewers in the broadcast as a 'heartbeat graphic', and allowing officials an unprecedented level of data to make fast, accurate decisions."

READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo's reaction to being subbed for Portugal stuns commentators

Igor Matanovic speaks out on decision to rule out late goal against Portugal

After Croatia were knocked out of the World Cup, Matanovic gave an honest assessment of the incident.

"Honestly, I think I felt a slight contact with my hair," he admitted, as per A Bola. "I asked the referee, I wasn't 100 percent sure if I had touched him. He told me that they have a chip in the ball, that there was a slight contact and that, therefore, it was offside."

"It's difficult to find the right words after the game," added Matanovic. "We played very well in the second half and deserved more. I haven't seen the penalty yet, but if this is given... three goals, offside, a post... I have no words, we were very unlucky today."

Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic slams "very bad" refereeing

As mentioned above, FIFA confirmed that Croatia's equaliser against Portugal was correctly ruled out for offside, but Zlatko Dalic was left frustrated by the amount of decisions that went against his side.

"The refereeing was very bad. Not a single foul, not a single interruption in our favor," Dalic said. "It was bad refereeing, but Croatia lost and we don't have the right to comment much. I'm sorry.

"First, congratulations to Portugal and I wish them all the best for the rest of the competition. In the second half, we turned the game in our favor, we created many opportunities and, in the end, we didn't deserve this result.

"I can only congratulate the boys, but, well, on the two previous occasions we were lucky at certain moments," added Dalic.