June 19, 2014

Suarez 2, Rooney 1

Uruguay 2, England 1: Who could have foreseen that Luis Suarez would end up being really important to the fortunes of La Celeste?  In a 180-degree reversal from their result on Saturday, when they looked bad in being dominated by lowly Costa Rica, the return of Suarez to the front was all Uruguay needed.  England, probably the only team in the Cup that is clearly using the tournament as a rebuilding exercise, got a rare international goal in a game that mattered by Wayne Rooney, only to blow it with inept defending in the final five minutes which allowed Suarez to score his second goal of the game.  England's chances of remaining in Brazil past the second week depend on something they never thought they would need: Costa Rica to lose twice.*

* Which is to say, England advances if
  1. Costa Rica loses both of its remaining games by an aggregate of at least three goals, and
  2. Italy beats Uruguay  

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