<p class="title rtejustify">Croatia captain Luka Modric said being awarded the Golden Ball for the World Cup's best player was "bittersweet" after losing the final 4-2 to France on Sunday.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"Obviously I liked the recognition and thanks to those who chose me, but clearly I would have preferred to have won the World Cup," said the Real Madrid midfielder.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"It wasn't to be and now we will rest and in the coming days celebrate this because it is still a huge thing for Croatia, but right now the feeling is bittersweet.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"We are proud of what we have done, but a bit sad at losing the final." Despite being forced into extra-time in all three of their knockout rounds before the final, Croatia dominated the opening period and were desperately unlucky to trail 2-1 at half-time through Mario Mandzukic's own goal and a controversial Antoine Griezmann penalty.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The smallest country to make a World Cup final in 68 years, with a population of just over four million, finally wilted after the break as Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe added to France's lead before Mandzukic pulled a goal back.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"Although I think we deserved more, we can't change anything," added Modric.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"We can only be proud of what we did -- we never gave up and fought until the end."</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">With the score at 1-1, France were awarded a penalty after Argentine referee Nestor Pitana reviewed video footage of an Ivan Perisic handball.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Croatia were doubly frustrated by Pitana's decision as France's opener also came from a dubious free-kick.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"The small details went in favour of France. It is a shame because I think we were very, very good and deserved to win," said Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"It is a shame that they didn't review the foul before the first goal and only the one that went against us.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"The foul for the first goal is clearly not a foul, the penalty is very, very dubious... it hurts a lot to lose like this." Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic insisted VAR was a "good thing" for football despite Pitana's call going against his side.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">But Rakitic believes improvements can still be made to the system that was being used in the World Cup for the first time.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"I understand they want to improve things with VAR, but there is still margin for improvement," he added. "It has helped a lot but it is still not perfect."</p>
<p class="title rtejustify">Croatia captain Luka Modric said being awarded the Golden Ball for the World Cup's best player was "bittersweet" after losing the final 4-2 to France on Sunday.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"Obviously I liked the recognition and thanks to those who chose me, but clearly I would have preferred to have won the World Cup," said the Real Madrid midfielder.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"It wasn't to be and now we will rest and in the coming days celebrate this because it is still a huge thing for Croatia, but right now the feeling is bittersweet.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"We are proud of what we have done, but a bit sad at losing the final." Despite being forced into extra-time in all three of their knockout rounds before the final, Croatia dominated the opening period and were desperately unlucky to trail 2-1 at half-time through Mario Mandzukic's own goal and a controversial Antoine Griezmann penalty.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The smallest country to make a World Cup final in 68 years, with a population of just over four million, finally wilted after the break as Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe added to France's lead before Mandzukic pulled a goal back.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"Although I think we deserved more, we can't change anything," added Modric.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"We can only be proud of what we did -- we never gave up and fought until the end."</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">With the score at 1-1, France were awarded a penalty after Argentine referee Nestor Pitana reviewed video footage of an Ivan Perisic handball.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Croatia were doubly frustrated by Pitana's decision as France's opener also came from a dubious free-kick.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"The small details went in favour of France. It is a shame because I think we were very, very good and deserved to win," said Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"It is a shame that they didn't review the foul before the first goal and only the one that went against us.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"The foul for the first goal is clearly not a foul, the penalty is very, very dubious... it hurts a lot to lose like this." Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic insisted VAR was a "good thing" for football despite Pitana's call going against his side.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">But Rakitic believes improvements can still be made to the system that was being used in the World Cup for the first time.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"I understand they want to improve things with VAR, but there is still margin for improvement," he added. "It has helped a lot but it is still not perfect."</p>