FIFA World Cup 2014 Uruguay's Luis Suarez exposes England's soft centre:
"England's defensive
frailties" is probably the most oft-repeated phrase in the country's
soccer journalism and the 2-1 loss to Uruguay at the World Cup on Thursday
underlined why.
Man-of-the-match Luis Suarez, back
from injury and the focus of intense media attention in the buildup to a game
both sides desperately needed to win, scored twice to put England on the brink
of elimination from Group D. Both goals underlined his attacking
brilliance – peeling off a defender for a well directed header in the first
half, and rifling an angled shot past Joe Hart after a speedy run on goal in
the second. And he was not even fully fit.
But England will feel both goals
could have been prevented.
For the first, central defender
Phil Jagielka allowed the prolific striker to lose him and get a free header on
goal. That would have been doubly depressing for England manager Roy
Hodgson because Jagielka's partner in central defence, Gary Cahill, was beaten
by the same trick in the first match against Italy last week when Mario
Balotelli headed their winner.
The second goal was more
calamitous.
A clearance from Uruguay keeper
Fernando Muslera brushed England captain Steven Gerrard's head, ensuring that
Suarez beyond him was onside. This time it was Cahill who was flat-footed
and ignoring the most basic rules of centre-back play, leaving the most deadly
finisher in the English Premier League a free run on goal, and his sizzling
strike was simply too hot for Hart to handle.
Jagielka did not try to paper over
the cracks.
"We are very disappointed as
defenders, that is the last thing you want to see from a punt down the
field," he said in televised remarks after the match.
Hodgson, naturally, looked for
positives in defeat, which came despite England having 62% of possession and
eight shots on goal to Uruguay's six.
"I thought we controlled
Suarez well in general play, he did very well to get away to the back post for
the first goal but frankly for long periods of the game we kept him
quiet," he said. "The second goal was an unfortunate flick off
Steven Gerrard's head and when he (Suarez) gets free with the goalkeeper he
doesn't miss."
That will be little comfort to the
thousands of England fans in fine voice at the boisterous Corinthians arena in
Sao Paulo and millions more tuning in at home.
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