Uruguay’s Suarez looks to erase ‘dirty plays’
Uruguay forward Luis Suarez is looking for redemption at the World Cup in Russia.
He was vilified in South Africa in 2010 for preventing a goal with his hands. Four years later in Brazil, he was condemned for biting an opponent.
Now, Suarez wants to finish a World Cup without controversy and give people an opportunity to talk about his play rather than his unsportsmanlike behavior.
The Barcelona player, who is one of the top strikers in the world, has made it clear that he wants to remove “the thorn on a personal level.”
Suarez was given a nine-match ban for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini in Brazil. That incident, along with the handball against Ghana in 2010, is among the most enduring memories of his career.
The incident against Ghana took place in the match’s final minutes, and the Africans surely would have won had the ball gone into the back of the net. Instead, Uruguay won and advanced to the semifinals.
The biting incident also occurred toward the end of the match when the score was 0-0. The referee didn’t see it and conceded a corner kick to Uruguay from which the South Americans scored and eliminated Italy from the tournament.
In both games, critics claimed that Uruguay advanced only because of Suarez’s dirty plays, giving him a reputation as a cheater that he hasn’t been able to shake off.
He hasn’t committed a serious offense since, but doubts remain. He regularly antagonizes his opponents and the referees, and he often questions the calls made against him.
So, the obvious question on the eve of Uruguay’s match against Egypt in Group A on Friday is whether FRIDAY Group A: Egypt vs. Uruguay, 8 a.m. (FS1) Group B: Morocco vs. Iran, 11 a.m. (Fox) Group B: Portugal vs. Spain, 2 p.m. (Fox)
SATURDAY Group C: France vs. Australia, 6 a.m. (FS1) Group D: Argentina vs. Iceland, 9 a.m. (Fox) Group C: Peru vs. Denmark, noon (FS1) Group D: Croatia vs. Nigeria, 3 p.m. (FS1)
SUNDAY Group E: Costa Rica vs. Serbia, 8 a.m. (Fox) Group F: Germany vs. Mexico, 11 a.m. (FS1) Group E: Brazil vs. Switzerland, 2 p.m. (FS1)
Suarez can control his impulses in Russia.
If anybody believes in him, it’s Uruguay’s coach, Oscar Tabarez, who has known him since he was on the country’s youth teams.
When asked Thursday whether Suarez is more mature now, Tabarez said: “Without any doubt.”
“Maturity comes in all areas of life — in football, in family life, in personal life,” the coach said. “He has thought about it. He has prepared himself for the World Cup.
I think that in addition to being a great player, Luis is very intelligent.”
Morocco has waited 20 years to return to the World Cup, and coach Herve Renard is urging his fringe players to make the most of every opportunity on the world stage.
Even if some players barely see action, Renard expects the entire squad to put the nation’s hopes ahead of their personal goals when Morocco plays Iran in its Group B opener on Friday.
“Maybe you only play five minutes,” Renard said Thursday, “but they can be the most important five minutes for your country and your team.”
He will not tolerate fringe players moaning about lack of playing time.
“There is always a bit of frustration when you’re part of a squad, but you have to work hard and wait for your chance,” Renard said. “That’s what football is like. They have to be ready and mentally prepared to take up the challenge.”
The challenge in Group B will be daunting. Morocco’s other opponents are European champion Portugal and 2010 World Cup winner Spain. Despite the challenges, this is no sightseeing exercise for Morocco.
“We’re not just here to take photos of St. Petersburg’s monuments,” Renard said.
“We’re here because we’re competitors.”
Julen Lopetegui said being fired as Spain’s coach two days before its opening match at the World Cup was “possibly since the death of my mother the saddest day of my life.”
Lopetegui made the remarks at his presentation as Real Madrid coach on Thursday.
Lopetegui was fired by Spanish football federation President Luis Rubiales on Wednesday — a day after Madrid made the unexpected announcement that Lopetegui had agreed to leave the national team for European champion Madrid after the World Cup.
Rubiales said Madrid and Lopetegui kept him in the dark until five minutes before the club made the deal public.
Lopetegui said he will watch Spain’s opener against Portugal on Friday and “cheer just like any other Spaniard.”