Suarez: This is my REVENGE for what the English did to me
LUIS SUAREZ claimed his two goals that leave England on the brink of World Cup elimination were sweet revenge for all the criticism he has had playing in the Premier League.
The Liverpool and Uruguay striker has been banned for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra and for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic during a controversial career in England.
And after last night’s 2-1 win over Roy Hodgson’s men, Suarez, who was playing his first game after a knee operation in mid-May, said: ‘I dreamt this. I’m enjoying this moment, because of all I suffered, the criticism I received. So, there you go. After three or four years of laughing at me I wonder what you think now?’
Suarez scored the winner five minutes from time after Wayne Rooney had cancelled out his earlier effort.
Italy play Costa Rica today and Hodgson’s side could be officially out of the tournament if it ends in a draw.
Hodgson said: ‘Our chances of staying in are unbelievably slim and it depends on Italy winning their next two games and scoring the requisite number of goals. We didn’t get it.
‘I don’t know what you want me to say — I think in both games we have shown we are a team that is making progress. But both results have been negative. I thought we controlled Suarez well in general play and he did well to get away to the back post for the first goal. We kept him quiet — he’s usually more active in the penalty area — but the second goal was an unfortunate flick (off Steven Gerrard) which left him free.
‘When he is free with the keeper he doesn’t miss. Ideally, we don’t allow the flick to put him through. He was voted player of the year by almost everyone in England. Two chances came his way and he took them both — that has ended our chances of staying in the competition.
‘We always knew he would probably be fit and he was targeting the second game. I think you will find when you speak to Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay’s coach) he is continuing his recovery. He had two chances and he scored them both.’
Hodgson claimed his team had done enough to get a point, but few will accept his explanation after a disastrous tournament.
The England head coach added: ‘We’ve done well enough tonight to get back in the game, and could have gone on to win, with our dominance, but of course they scored the winning goal.
‘I am bitterly disappointed. We came with such high hopes and were not able to deliver, which is a major sadness.
‘I don’t think anyone let me down, the team down, or the country down. I thought we had a lot more possession but they stood firm and we couldn’t score. We played against a strong side defensively and maybe they restricted spaces a bit better. Everyone tried hard and the mood is low.’
England defender Phil Jagielka, who had a disastrous night alongside Gary Cahill, admitted Suarez was the difference.
He said: ‘It is gutting. We played so well in spells but things didn’t go our way. Steven Gerrard flicked the ball on, Suarez was onside and you hope he mis-hits one but he finds the target and wins the game.
‘It is a similar story to Italy, we played pretty well but not good enough. We are disappointed as defenders; that is the last thing you want to see from a punt down the field. Everyone is absolutely devastated in there.’
Uruguay coach Tabarez said: ‘If this was a movie, people probably couldn’t have wished for a better storyline, at least in Uruguay. We have won. We have beaten a European team after a long, long time. Many people said we wouldn’t be able to do so. It’s a special day.
‘Both goals were scored by Suarez, a player who was injured a month ago and had to undergo surgery, so this game was loaded with symbolism. But we can still fight. We’re still alive, but we have not qualified yet.’
BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Chris Waddle claimed England have not learned their lessons from the 2010 World Cup, saying: ‘Not good enough from England, it’s the same old things we talked about in South Africa four years ago — a lack of composure on the ball, people not accepting the ball when they are marked, defensively not good enough. ‘The second goal was shocking, yes it was a flick-on by Gerrard — he could do little about it — but the back three were all over the shop, no defensive shape and organisation.’ Former England manager Glenn Hoddle, speaking on ITV, said of the winner: ‘It’s a schoolboy goal. One punt down the pitch. You won’t see another goal in the World Cup like that. We were beaten by a world class finisher. If we had a finisher like that we’d have won both games. Suarez was the difference.’
Gary Lineker tweeted during the game: ‘ Our defending is appalling!’ He later added: ‘I must say, Suarez is a phenomenon. His performance defies belief.’
BBC pundit Rio Ferdinand said: ‘It’s nightmarish, a straight ball down the middle. We let ourselves down.’