Point proven, says two-goal Suarez

Uruguay striker ecstatic over ‘dream afternoon’ after win against England.

SAO PAOLO: Controversial striker Luis Suarez said he was delighted to prove a point after scoring two goals to see Uruguay to a 2-1 win over England on Thursday, revealing he had taken time to console Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard.

The 27-year-old forward has regularly made the headlines for all the wrong reasons since he joined the English Premier League giants in 2011.

He started last season completing a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic — a punishment that came a year after he received an eight-game suspension for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.

Even before he joined Liverpool, Suarez was dubbed ‘the cannibal of Ajax’ when he bit an opponent’s shoulder and was handed a seven-game ban.

“I’m very happy about this victory,” said Suarez, who was voted player of the season by his peers in England.

“I wanted to help the team and try to get three important points.

“It was a dream afternoon because we won, because of the way we won, and for what the rival meant to me, for everything that was said, the doubts, and this was a way to demonstrate everything I wanted to prove.”

Suarez, back in action just four weeks after knee surgery, put Uruguay ahead with a 39th-minute header before Wayne Rooney equalised.

But the Uruguayan had the final say when he latched on to a long ball and smashed home the winner five minutes from time after Gerrard mistimed a header in midfield.

Suarez, who missed Uruguay’s opening defeat to Costa Rica, said he was delighted to prove to his doubters he was playing at a ‘world-class level’ despite speculation over his fitness.

And asked what he told Gerrard after the game, he said, “I said keep going and forget about this game.”

Gerrard rues error after defeat

Gerrard regretted his error that led to Uruguay’s winning goal, saying inexperience had cost his team, who now need a miracle to stay in the World Cup.

The veteran 34-year-old midfielder, who said the result was a ‘personal low’, admitted the goals conceded were ‘sloppy’.

“We have to take responsibility for that as a team,” he said. “The first one, he’s [Suarez] peeled off onto the back post, it was a fantastic ball by [Edinson] Cavani. We’ll have to look at that.

“The second one, I tried to get good contact on the ball but it wasn’t good enough.

“It’s a really tough moment for everyone in the dressing room but we need to be professional and keep fighting and play for that small glimmer of hope.”

Meanwhile, England boss Roy Hodgson said he had no intention of resigning despite steering his team to the brink of their worst World Cup performance in 56 years.

“I’m bitterly disappointed, of course, but I don’t feel I need to resign,” 66-year-old Hodgson told British broadcaster ITV. “On the other hand, if the Football Association thinks I’m not the right man to do the job, then we’ll see.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2014.

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