Following Croatia’s last-gasp draw with Italy that saw them exit the Euros, the country’s media have hit out at referee Danny Makkelie, Voetbal International has reflected.
“Silence on the bus and a sleepless night,” 24sata begins – implying that Makkelie’s performance was poor enough to keep a whole country tossing and turning. While Croatia’s players have been praised, the same can’t be said for the officiating.
24sata continues, and devotes an entire article to a moment just before the Italian equalizer. Just before Riccardo Calafiori could steam towards the Croatian goal, veteran Ivan Perisic sent a long ball to Ante Budimir, who was brought down by the same Calafiori. The striker was floored with Calafiori unpunished and so Croatia were caught out on the counter, they report. As a result, the story of this European Championship ended for Croatia, it is said.
Apart from this incident, the players ‘who gave everything’ are spared. The opposite applies to Makkelie. The referee gave eight minutes of extra playing time and captain Luka Modric also mentioned his performance. The papers said, “The referee’s contribution hurts us. A serious team should not fall the same way twice. Not even if there is a ‘Dutch criminal’ on the other side. This really hurts…“
While Makkelie will be the scapegoat, goal-scorer Mattia Zaccagni has been labelled the ‘man who made the whole of Croatia cry’ by outlet, Sportske novost i. In their piece, again, the team are praised. It reads: “It is difficult to find fault with the players after they played such a good match. Such an experienced team should not concede twice a goal at the end of the matches. But they are all flesh and blood, the nervousness took its toll…’
