Ana Maria Markovic posted an Instagram “couch bet” ahead of Croatia’s World Cup match with Portugal; after Croatia’s 2-1 loss, the lighthearted wager and the tagged partner’s public reply became a small social-media story tied to the result.
Ana Maria Markovic Instagram bet
Ana Maria Markovic used her public Instagram account to set up a playful pregame wager. In a post shared before kick-off she wrote, “Someone’s sleeping on the couch tonight,” and tagged Portuguese player Tomas Ribeiro. That phrasing and the tag were visible in the Instagram thread as reported by media outlets covering the exchange.
To be clear: the core line — “Someone’s sleeping on the couch tonight” — is taken from Markovic’s public Instagram post. The characterization of the post as a “bet” or “wager” comes from how fans and some outlets framed the exchange; the Instagram post itself reads as a light, personal taunt tied to the match outcome rather than a formal stake.
Tomas Ribeiro’s response
The post included a direct tag of Tomas Ribeiro. In the Instagram comments visible in reports, Ribeiro replied with a short, teasing response — quoted by outlets as “Guess who’s gonna be?” — keeping the tone playful and public. That reply appears within the public Instagram thread and was subsequently highlighted by news coverage.
Coverage of the exchange is based on the public social-media thread and later media reports; there is no separately published confirmation of any private follow-up beyond what was posted publicly on Instagram and what outlets described in their pieces.
Match result and viewing details
Croatia lost 2-1 to Portugal in the match that decided advancement. Reporters noted the result and situated Markovic’s post in that context: because Croatia lost, the social-media taunt was read by fans as meaning Ribeiro had “lost” the friendly wager.
Markovic was reported as watching the match amid a large crowd of Portugal supporters near AT&T Stadium. The line that she was “literally the only Croatian here” is relayed in Fox News’ coverage, which in turn cited other outlets for that quote; we attribute the phrasing to those published reports rather than an independent interview conducted for this story.
Markovic’s club and profile
Ana Maria Markovic is a 26-year-old professional player who is currently listed with Brooklyn FC in the USL Super League. The club and league context matters because it highlights how many modern athletes balance club seasons and international tournaments while maintaining an active social-media presence.
The USL Super League is a U.S.-based professional women’s competition; Brooklyn FC is one of the clubs fielding professional players who also attract attention for off-field moments like social-media posts. Including that context helps readers understand why a short Instagram exchange between two pros drew media interest beyond just fans of the national teams.
Timeline of events
– Pre-match: Markovic posts on Instagram, writing “Someone’s sleeping on the couch tonight” and tagging Tomas Ribeiro (public Instagram thread).
– During/after match: Croatia falls 2-1 to Portugal; media outlets cite the Instagram post as a playful wager tied to that outcome.
– Post-match: Ribeiro’s brief reply in the Instagram thread is highlighted by news reports; outlets also noted Markovic’s comment about being surrounded by Portugal fans at AT&T Stadium.
Why this moment resonated
The exchange struck a chord as a small human-interest vignette amid a major sporting event. Big tournaments often generate countless short stories that make the rounds on social media — family moments, friendly rivalries, and lighthearted bets — and this was one such example that combined international competition with a very relatable domestic image: who ends up on the couch?
Readers and fans responded because the post connected the distant stakes of a World Cup match to a personal, everyday consequence. The public nature of the Instagram thread meant the moment was easily shareable and quickly picked up by sports and gossip outlets looking for texture around the main sporting headlines.
Sources and limits of what’s known
This account is based on Markovic’s public Instagram post and subsequent media coverage. The Fox News piece reporting the exchange is one primary published source; that Fox News article cites other outlets for some of the viewer quotes. Direct quotes attributed here are either taken from Markovic’s public Instagram post (as reported) or are described as appearing in media coverage. We do not have independent reporting that confirms private, off-camera consequences — for example, who ultimately slept on the couch — beyond the public social posts and what outlets have published.
Source: Fox News — World Cup comes between professional soccer couple, she loses and he gets kicked out of bed. That Fox News item references the public Instagram thread and cites other outlets for some details; where a quote is second-hand via reporting, this article notes it as such rather than as an independently verified interview.
What happens next
There is no public reporting of any formal consequence following the Instagram exchange beyond the posts themselves and the media coverage they generated. For now the incident stands as a social-media moment tied to Croatia’s 2-1 loss to Portugal rather than as verified information about the couple’s private life.
