Luis Suarez was crying tears of joy at full-time after guiding Uruguay to a 2-1 victory over England at the World Cup on Thursday night.
It was a moment of redemption for the 27-year-old forward, revealing after the game that it was sweet revenge for all the criticism he has received in England since moving to Liverpool in 2011.
Suarez gave Uruguay a first-half lead when he headed home Edinson Cavani’s chipped through-ball.
Wayne Rooney levelled things up for England with 15 minutes to go, slotting home Glen Johnson’s low cross, but Suarez struck again with a stunning finish past Joe Hart 5 minutes from time.
“Before the game, too many people in England laughed about my attitude over the last few years,” Suarez told the media after the game.
“This is a very good time for me. I want to see what they think now.”
Suarez understandably took immense pleasure in beating the Football Association’s pride and joy, England, after the lengthly bans he has been served in recent years.
Suarez was suspended for eight games following his race row with Manchester United’s Patrice Evra in 2011, and then 10 more games when he bit the arm of Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic in 2013.
“It has been like a dream,” he continued. “It is something I have dreamt about very often. It was one of the best games I’ve played.
“It’s an amazing moment for me. Maybe a few days ago I thought this wouldn’t be possible.”
Suarez missed Uruguay’s opening World Cup game — a 3-1 defeat to Costa Rica — due to injury, but he was delighted to recover in time to face England.
He added, “I had to keep calm, keep my cool and when I got the ball I just kicked it with my whole heart thinking of all those who have supported me.
“I would like to say thank you to my wife and my two children, my physiotherapist Walter Ferreira and my team-mates.”
Suarez did have some words of sympathy for Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who looked dejected as the pair embraced at full-time.
“This is an unlucky moment for him,” Suarez said. “I don’t like it when he hurts like this. I said, ‘Keep going, forget this game, you’re one of the best’. He’s the best player I’ve played with.”
Liverpool supertsar Luis Suarez inspired Uruguay to a 2-1 win over the Three Lions by scoring both goals, but how did the English Reds play? Henry Jackson (@OnFootballTweet) assesses their performances on a dark night for English football.
GLEN JOHNSON: 5 (out of 10)
The 29-year-old was typically inconsistent all evening, much like his Liverpool form throughout the 2013/14 campaign. Too often he was slow and ponderous in possession, and his decision-making in key areas left a lot to be desired.
For Suarez’s first goal he allowed Edinson Cavani to cut onto his strong right foot far too easily, and he also let the Paris Saint-Germain striker ghost past him in the second-half too.
The Reds right-back did at least play a key role in Wayne Rooney’s equaliser, linking up well with Daniel Sturridge and crossing for the Manchester United man to finish from close-range.
The Liverpool and England captain endured one of his worst nights in a Three Lions shirt, just when his country really needed him to step up to the plate.
He struggled to impose himself on proceedings from start to finish, and his usually lethal set-piece delivery was inconsistent.
The 34-year-old lost out in a tackle in the middle of the park in the lead-up to Uruguay’s opener, and his poor attempt at a header -admittedly Phil Jagielka was more to blame- allowed Suarez to run in behind the England defence and fire his side to victory.
Since the infamous slip against Chelsea, it’s been a torturous month or two for the Reds legend.
JORDAN HENDERSON: 6
Henderson was one of England’s better performers on a hugely disappointing, and despite being far from excellent, he played with a passion and desire lacking in others.
The 24-year-old showed a couple of decent bursts forward, and also did a lot of unnoticed dirty work in breaking up a number of Uruguay attacks.
His ball retention was erratic at times, however, and is a part of his game he needs to work on in future years.
RAHEEM STERLING: 5
The 19-year-old superstar was not as effective as in England’s opening game against Italy, but this was more to do with Roy Hodgson inexplicably moving him out wide after impressing so much in the ‘number 10′ role last Saturday.
Occasionally he showed a lack of experience by being caught in possession, but invariably he looked England’s most dangerous player with the ball at his feet.
He was replaced by Ross Barkley in the second-half, in a decision that seemed completely baffling. How did Danny Welbeck stay on instead?
DANIEL STURRIDGE: 5
Despite a good finish against Italy, the truth of the matter is that Sturridge has struggled to hit top gear for a few months now.
The 24-year-old was often guilty of failing to hold the ball up, and when he did he was invariably too greedy in possession.
His pace and unpredictability did at least make him look a threat, and he tested Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera twice with decent efforts.
The former Chelsea man did at least play a key part in England’s equaliser, showing great footwork and vision to set Johnson free down the right.
RICKIE LAMBERT (on for Henderson 87)
No time to make an impact.
Who do you think was the best Liverpool player on the night? Let us know in the comments section below.
Maurico Isla says he would be happy to remain on the books at Juventus for as long as the Serie A champions want him.
The highly-rated full-back is currently shining on the World Cup stage for Chile, and his efforts are generating mounting transfer speculation.
Arsenal and Liverpool are said to be closely monitoring the 26-year-old as they weigh up the merits of summer approaches.
Isla, though, claims to be settled in Italy, having spent his entire senior career to date with Udinese and Juve.
He insists that he has expressed no desire to move on, with any call on his future now resting with Juventus.
Isla told La Tercera: “I am working hard for both Chile and Juventus. For me it is all good.
“Will I stay at Juventus? I know that the fans support me. I have learned from many players at Juventus and continue to work hard.
“If the coach wants me to return, then I am glad because I want to do my best at the World Cup and then return to Juventus.”
Meanwhile, the agent of ex-Juventus striker David Trezeguet has been talking up a possible return to Turin for the former France international.
The 36-year-old is on the books of Argentine outfit River Plate at present, but Antonio Calidendo claims a return to Italy is an option set to be explored.
He said: “If Juventus are thinking about (Didier) Drogba they could easily have Trezeguet in mind as he would be a good option in attack.
“Wouldn’t it be better to re-sign David? It would be a smart move as he has goals in his blood.
“We are talking about two players who are almost the same age - Drogba is 36 and Trezeguet will be 37 in October.
“It is no secret that David would like to end his career in Italy and at Juventus. That would be his dream.
“A financial agreement would be no problem so I now have to meet with the president of Juventus – we have a good relationship – and I will talk to him about the idea of bringing Trezeguet back.”
Maurico Isla says he would be happy to remain on the books at Juventus for as long as the Serie A champions want him.
The highly-rated full-back is currently shining on the World Cup stage for Chile, and his efforts are generating mounting transfer speculation.
Arsenal and Liverpool are said to be closely monitoring the 26-year-old as they weigh up the merits of summer approaches.
Isla, though, claims to be settled in Italy, having spent his entire senior career to date with Udinese and Juve.
He insists that he has expressed no desire to move on, with any call on his future now resting with Juventus.
Isla told La Tercera: “I am working hard for both Chile and Juventus. For me it is all good.
“Will I stay at Juventus? I know that the fans support me. I have learned from many players at Juventus and continue to work hard.
“If the coach wants me to return, then I am glad because I want to do my best at the World Cup and then return to Juventus.”
Meanwhile, the agent of ex-Juventus striker David Trezeguet has been talking up a possible return to Turin for the former France international.
The 36-year-old is on the books of Argentine outfit River Plate at present, but Antonio Calidendo claims a return to Italy is an option set to be explored.
He said: “If Juventus are thinking about (Didier) Drogba they could easily have Trezeguet in mind as he would be a good option in attack.
“Wouldn’t it be better to re-sign David? It would be a smart move as he has goals in his blood.
“We are talking about two players who are almost the same age - Drogba is 36 and Trezeguet will be 37 in October.
“It is no secret that David would like to end his career in Italy and at Juventus. That would be his dream.
“A financial agreement would be no problem so I now have to meet with the president of Juventus – we have a good relationship – and I will talk to him about the idea of bringing Trezeguet back.”
Luis Suarez starts against England in tonight’s World Cup Group D fixture (8pm kick off).
It means that six Liverpool players will be start the match, with England unchanged from the side that lost 2-1 to Italy.
Glen Johnson, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge all start for Roy Hodgson’s side.
Sterling is expected to play on the right side of attack, in order to allow Wayne Rooney to play in a central role.
England: Hart, Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines, Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling, Rooney, Welbeck, Sturridge.
Uruguay: Muslera; Caceres, Gimenez, Godin, Pereira; Gonzalez, Arevalo, Lodeiro; Rodriguez, Cavani, Suarez.
