England repeat the scoreline of their opener against Italy, again going behind twice, and this time it is very likely to have sent them home from South America, waiting on other results in Group D to know their fate.
If Italy beat Costa Rica tomorrow, it could come down to goal difference on Tuesday, with England needing to beat Costa Rica by as many goals as they can, as well as relying on the Italians to go 3 for 3 in the group stage. The adventure isn’t over but there is a mountain to climb and their destiny is not only in their own hands.
The Hand of Godin
England had the first big shout of the game, when Sturridge powered into the penalty area and played a neat chipped ball through to Rooney who was clear through on goal. Another South American hand worked its magic against England in the World Cup finals though, when Diego Godin very clearly blocked the pass illegally. The Uruguayan center back should consider himself very lucky not to see red for denying a goal-scoring opportunity with his hand.
Wayne Rooney whipped in a fantastic free-kick, looping over the wall and dipping, but the England striker was still denied his first ever World Cup finals goal, as it sailed very narrowly outside of the top corner. Uruguay keeper, Fernando Muslera of Galatasaray, remained rooted to the floor and would’ve been easily beaten if Rooney had been on target.
Godin again rode his luck by stopping Sturridge again, this time by clothes-lining the Liverpool striker. The ref gave the free-kick but curiously the red card still remained in the ref’s back pocket.
Moments later, Rooney’s World Cup curse once more haunts him, failing to get a good connection with his head at the back post, on a Gerrard free-kick played perilously across the box.
Suarez clinical as ever
Nicolas Lodeiro started the move, first he got the better of Gerrard in the center circle and then played a delicate ball out wide to Edinson Cavani. Glen Johnson gave the PSG striker way too much space and allowed him to pick out a great ball into the box, over the head of Jagielka and Suarez put himself into the perfect place to header back across Hart and put Uruguay ahead.
Rooney finally breaks his World Cup finals duck
Rooney had reached his tenth World Cup finals game and never put his name on the score-sheet but the mettle and determination won out finally, when he got on the end of a great ball across the box by earlier villain, Glen Johnson. Sturridge dropped deep to pick up the ball out on the wing and fed it down the line to Johnson, who pulled it inside cleverly, leaving his man for dead. His ball found Rooney at the far post for a tap-in.
Suarez bags brace with late winner
The game burst into life for the last 15 minutes, after Rooney’s equalizer, with both teams risking everything for a winning goal. The ball went from end-to-end and a goal looked imminent at every attack. Ten minutes after England leveled the score though, they were behind again. Route one from the keeper and up pops Suarez again to break the hearts of the nation he plays his club football in.
Cavani got a flick on the ball, tipping it over Gerrard and beyond Jagielka, where Suarez waited lay waiting to hammer it home with a ferocity Hart couldn’t stop.
Is it all over for England now? Are Roy Hodgson’s men as good as on that plane home?
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