Bad boy Suarez all smiles
LUIS Suarez finally got rattled at this year’s World Cup.
Sitting at the podium in the postmatch news conference after Uruguay’s 3-0 victory over Russia yesterday, a reporter asked him why he often wore a sad expression.
Suarez tossed aside his translation headphones, then smiled broadly in defiance and finally said: “What a waste of time. Next question please.”
Other than that little blip, Suarez has been on his best behaviour in Russia, scoring twice as Uruguay swept through the group stage with three wins, sending the two-time champion to the knockout round for the third straight World Cup.
Edinson Cavani also scored yesterday against the host nation, which dropped its first match of the tournament. Both teams were already assured of spots in the knockout round, but Uruguay’s victory put it at the top of Group A and looking towards a match in Sochi on Saturday against Portugal.
Uruguay, which also benefited from an own-goal in the first half, had its third straight shutout of the tournament after consecutive 1-0 victories over Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The Uruguayans and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera have not allowed a goal in any of the team’s six matches this year. “After winning the first two matches 1-0, our goal was to get another,” Suarez said.
“We wanted to play the same we had before, only better.”
By advancing to the round of 16 with victories over Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Russia secured its best World Cup showing in the post-Soviet era.
But Uruguay — ranked No. 14 in the world — posed a far greater challenge to the host.
Suarez is the all-time leading scorer for Uruguay with 53 international goals in 101 appearances. But his two past World Cups have been marked by controversy.
He was sent home from Brazil four years ago for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini. In 2010, he used his hands to block Dominic Adiyiah’s header and then celebrated when Ghana missed the penalty kick. Uruguay prevailed in a shootout, and Suarez was marked as a dirty player.