Natal: Uruguay skipper Diego Godin scored to send Italy crashing out of the World Cup on Tuesday but the South Americans star striker Luis Suarez faced a new biting storm. Uruguay beat Italy 1-0 in the tense match in which the Europeans ended with 10-men and left the World Cup at the group phase for the second time in succession.
The key to this battle will be the striker battle. Suarez and Cavani are absolutely lethal combination for Uruguay, while Balotelli will be leading the line for Italy. Italy will also have to deal with Pirlo in midfield and they will be looking to stio\op him from dictating the play in midfield. If Italy can move the ball around in midfield and pick out passes then Uruguay will be in trouble.
But amid the celebrations, immediate attention fell on a clash between Suarez and Italian defender Ciorgio Chiellini who showed teeth marks in his shoulder after. Television replays showed Suarez who has twice been sanctioned for biting players appearing to attempt to sink his teeth into Chiellini’s shoulder in an off-the-ball incident.
Chiellini was in no doubt Suarez who was seen sitting on the ground feeling his teeth after the incident had bitten him. “He bit me it’s clear I still have the mark,” said an aggrieved Chiellini.
Italy won the 2006 World Cup, then failed to reach the last 16 in South Africa four years ago. They required only a draw against Uruguay at Estadio das Dunas in Natal to go through this time. However the Azzurri suffered a critical blow early in the second half when Claudio Marchisio was sent off for a studs-up challenge. Shortly after the Suarez-Chiellini incident, Godin rose in a crowded box and the ball rebounded off his shoulder to beat Buffon in the 81st minute.
Uruguay’s win means they leapfrog Italy to join Costa Rica in the last 16 of the tournament. Italy coach Cesare Prandelli deployed a 3-5-2 designed to tighten the Azzurri defence and give them attacking options on the wings with Matteo Darmian and Mattia De Sciglio.
But despite a solid display in a scoreless first-half, the Azzurri’s hunt for goals led by Ciro Immobile and Mario Balotelli reaped no reward. Uruguay, starting with the same 4-4-2 lineup that defeated England 2-1, came closest early on when a free kick whipped in deep by Luiz Suarez forced Buffon into a desperate punch out.
Celeste strikers Suarez and Edinson Cavani were described by Prandelli as one of the most potent strike duo’s at the World Cup, but they were mostly kept on a tight rein during a nervous first half.
Italy suffered a blow when Balotelli was cautioned for a needless high tackle on Inter’s Alvaro Pereira, who felt the AC Milan striker’s boot come over the back of his head. Balotelli’s yellow card means he will miss Italy’s next match, although that will now be after the World Cup. Paris Saint Germain midfielder Marco Verratti was Italy’s star performer thus far.
