Uruguay striker Luis
Suarez has shrugged off
the controversy
surrounding his clash
with Giorgio Chiellini in
Tuesday’s World Cup win
over Italy , arguing that “these things happen
inside the penalty area”.
Diego Godin scored the only goal of the game
with just nine minutes remaining in Natal, as
the Celeste dramatically progressed to the last
16 at the expense of the Azzurri, who only
needed a draw to go through.
However, Uruguay’s success has already been
overshadowed by Chiellini’s claim that Suarez
should have been sent off for allegedly biting
him on the back of the shoulder when the pair
clashed in the box shortly before the deadlock
was broken.
The Liverpool striker, though, says that the
incident has been blown out of all proportion.
“These things happen inside the penalty
area,” Suarez was quoted saying”We were chest against
shoulder. I also immediately suffered a blow
to the eye.”
Suarez preferred to instead hail his side for
the way in which they recovered from
surprisingly losing their tournament opener
against Costa Rica by defeating both England
and Italy to seal a place in the knockout
stage.
“We were very strong,” the attacker
enthused. “We did a great job. I think that
having started the World Cup badly and
turning the situation on its head, we deserved
to go through to the next round.
“I had no more energy [at the end of the
game against Italy] – the heat was really
strong – but I was calm.
“Then the goal [from Godin] arrived and we
are very happy. Now we will celebrate and
think of our next opponent.”
Having finished second to over-performing
Costa Rica, Uruguay will face one of Greece in the last 16.
