<p class="title rtejustify">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">With the score level at 1-1, Argentine referee Nestor Pitana changed yesterday his initial decision and awarded a spot-kick, converted by Antoine Griezmann, for handball against Ivan Perisic after viewing television replays.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"I never comment on referees but in a World Cup final you do not give such a penalty," said Dalic.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"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.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"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." </p>
<p class="title rtejustify">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">With the score level at 1-1, Argentine referee Nestor Pitana changed yesterday his initial decision and awarded a spot-kick, converted by Antoine Griezmann, for handball against Ivan Perisic after viewing television replays.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"I never comment on referees but in a World Cup final you do not give such a penalty," said Dalic.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"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.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"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." </p>