Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo argues with referee Said Martinez during their Group I Fifa World Cup match against England. The Black Stars were left furious after VAR declined to award a late penalty following Ezri Konsa's challenge on Prince Kwabena Adu.
The players have provided the goals, the drama and the upsets, but as the World Cup reaches its knockout stages, another protagonist continues to dominate the conversation.
VAR has once again found itself at the centre of some of the tournament's defining moments, with a succession of reviews influencing results, eliminating teams and reshaping the road to the final. The latest – and arguably most dramatic – came in Portugal's last-32 victory over Croatia.
Trailing 2-1 deep into stoppage time, Croatia thought they had rescued the match when they bundled home a dramatic equaliser. What followed was one of the longest and most significant reviews of the tournament. Using the sensor inside the match ball alongside semi-automated offside technology, officials determined the ball had brushed Igor Matanovic's head before reaching Mario Pasalic, who was standing in an offside position.
The goal was ruled out, ending Croatia's World Cup and prolonging Cristiano Ronaldo's quest for another title, while bringing Luka Modric's international career to a heartbreaking conclusion.
