Suarez can’t return soon enough for sad Uruguay
LUIS SUAREZ watched at home as Uruguay beat Northern Ireland in the rainswept Centanario Stadium and saw just how much his country need him ahead of the World Cup.
The winner of the Golden Boot, whose 31 goals last season so nearly took Liverpool to the Premier League title, has been having intensive physiotherapy at home this week and will step up his comeback in the next few days as he joins team-mates preparing for the final friendly against Slovenia on Wednesday.
Uruguay mustered a second-half goal from Christian Stuani against a Northern Ireland side who fielded Luke McCullough, 20 – fresh from 15 games for Doncaster last season – in central defence and 36-year-old former Manchester United keeper Roy Carroll.
‘Suarez is irreplaceable,’ said Uruguay skipper Diego Lugano. ‘He’s our best player, the one who makes the difference. His injury weakens us but if he doesn’t make it, Uruguay aren’t going to play with 10 men. Someone will come in and play for him. Stuani is in great shape. He’s sharp and very hungry and Abel Hernandez is ready to break through.’
Palermo striker Hernandez, 23, looked lively as a substitute and Espanyol forward Stuani scored after replacing Diego Forlan.
Deep defending made it difficult for Uruguay. ‘When a team defend like that we find it tough to create space and chances. We were a bit slow and predictable and we have to know that teams will line up that way against us,’ added Lugano.
Suarez gives Uruguay that spark of unpredictability and he boosted morale on Friday when he turned up for a team lunch. He showed no signs of having difficulty walking during his threehour stay but coach Oscar Tabarez hinted that the striker will not be rushed back to face Costa Rica in the first of Uruguay’s World Cup fixtures. He said: ‘We’ll not decide the XI until the day before the game. Luis will join the squad this week and, depending on how his knee responds, we’ll see how soon we can count on him to start.’