Uruguay 2-1 England

England suffered a second straight defeat last night by going down 2-1 to a productive Uruguay. Despite having over sixty-five percent of possession, England could not pick up a single point. Despite being far from full fitness, Luis Suárez still managed to claim his eighth international double.

The first chance went to the man himself, Luis Suárez, who decided to shoot from a corner. He saw Joe Hart off his line, though the England keeper recovered smartly to save well. But it was soon after that another really decent chance fell Uruguay’s way. As a cross was played in, Jagielka tamely tapped the ball right into the feet of left midfielder Cristian Rodriguez, who lashed the ball inches over Joe Hart’s crossbar. Then came the first of England’s chances. A dream free-kick from Steven Gerrard met Wayne Rooney at the back post. But the Manchster United forward was too close in to get any real control of it and the ball smashed off his head, then off the post. As Cristian Rodriguez picked up the ball in the centre of midfield, he passed to the left to Edinson Cavani. Suárez ran as fast as he could into a great position to head Cavani’s great cross back past Joe Hart and into the net. The ma that everyone had deemed unfit before the match, had ironically scored his fortieth international goal just before halftime.

The second half began, and Luis Suárez decided to try to score directly from a croner once again. This time Hart was even further out, but made a very good stop. Then, just a minute later, it was Edinson Cavani’s turn to have a go. Joe Hart did extremely well to spread the entirety of the goal and Cavani shot way wide from no more than four yards.

As Leighton Baines’ cross was met by Welbeck, he passed to his club teammate Rooney, who shot in the one place where Muslera could save. The save was a very impressive one.

England’s solitary goal followed. Roy Hodgson’s lead striker Daniel Sturridge, in a right-back’s area turned three defenders before passing up field to the right-back Glen Johnson. The Liverpool man took as long as he could, before sending a brilliant low cross into the box. Wayne Rooney made the most powerful, desperate and determined run imaginable before slotting the ball under the goalkeeper to claim his fortieth England goal; his first in a World Cup finals; and England a much needed equaliser.

It was in the eighty-fifth minute that England gave Uruguay their winner. As goalkeeper Fernando Muslera booted the ball out, it was knocked on by captain Steven Gerrard. Suárez was onto the ball in a split-second and as he beat the two central defenders for speed and power, he hammered the ball into the roof of the net. The Arena de Sao Paulo erupted with noise as one of the most influential football players on the planet gave his team hope of a place in the last sixteen. England now, is so very nearly out of the FIFA World Cup of 2014.