LUIS SUAREZ WAS delighted to prove a point after scoring two goals to see Uruguay to a 2-1 win over England last night, revealing he had taken time to console Liverpool team-mate 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.
“I’m very happy about this victory. I wanted to help the team, try to get three important points, but it’s not the final word,” said Suarez, who was voted player of the season by his peers in England.
“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.
Go again
And asked what he told Gerrard after the game, he said: “I said keep going and forget about this game.”
England boss Roy Hodgson raised the stakes ahead of Thursday’s match in Sao Paulo by insisting Suarez has yet to prove he’s a world class striker.
Speaking about Hodgson, Suarez said: “He sees me all year long over there. He knows what I’m worth as a player, as a person, and these things help to build courage and character going forward.”
“It’s a very important victory that we wanted, that we needed because we knew it was a crucial and vital game for us,” he added.
“We won but we haven’t qualified yet. We need to keep our feet to the ground because we have another game against Italy.”
Surprised Hodgson made those silly remarks. Suarez is clearly world class, whether you like him or not.
What did he say?
Well roy know who I would pick between suarez and your very own world class striker rooney….. As johnny giles was sayin I know which one would murder my granny and which one would try and seduce her! Its the murderer your lookin for and frankly dont fancy having to look at rooneys ugly mug when I pop round to my grannies!
I don’t know Cornelius – given Wayne’s penchant for older ladies you shouldn’t be too surprised to find him around your granny’s.
After everything that has happened to Suarez in England you would nearly think it was written in the stars for him to come back from injury and send England crashing out of the tournament!
Was the difference for Uruguay last night as he has been for Liverpool all season. World class player who can do it for every team he plays for. Top scorer in the South American Qualifiers, joint winner of the golden shoe in Europe without taking a single penalty and his obvious exclusion at the start of the season. And then to come back and sink England like that in a do or die game on the world stage after nursing a knee injury. Has been without doubt the best player in the world this season. I’m sure Perez is kicking stones outside Anfield waving a blank cheque.
if hodgson was still over liverpool, he would play suarez at left back.
It was more than Hodgson who doubted him. They are been made to look like right fools now. Not many better out there.
i havent heard one other person in the media or in day to day life doubt him,where are you getting this from ?? plenty dont like him but that is a different story
Hodgson’s the wrong man, didn’t like him from the start, starts the same line-up again. No common sense. Why u would start welbeck ahead of Barkley is beyond me, n why would u start Henderson instead of Lampard jus bcuz he had one good season, doesn’t mean u start the whole liverpool team for god sake. Big mistake not recalling terry n leaving cole out. What a waste of a World Cup. #harryin
Eamon, is that you??