Luis Suarez’s brace dealt England’s hopes of going beyond the group stage of the World Cup a killer blow, on his return from a knee surgery.
The Liverpool striker headed in Edinson Cavani’s cross to put the South American champions ahead, but Wayne Rooney leveled for the ‘Three Lions’ 15 minutes to full-time.
Suarez, 27, then completed his brace on 84 minutes, when he rifled the Brazuca into the roof of the net.
A draw for Italy against Costa Rica, who both won their opening Group D matches, tomorrow means England is out of the World Cup in the group stage, while victory for either of the teams triggers the permutations for Roy Hodgson’s side.
Less I forgot, no team has ever lost its opening two games at
the World Cup and advanced from the group, however; the fact remains England’s chances fizzled out of their hands on a relatively humid night at the Arena de Sao Paulo.
Suarez was considered a 50/50 chance to play against the home country of his professional alegiance after missing their opening loss to Costa Rica, but in reality he was full of venom on the pitch.
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, the subject of several criticism on British media prior to the clash, came up with many of the responses the 1960 champions could muster.
Redeployed to a more central role after all by his coach, the 28-year-old’s header from a Stephen Gerrard free-kick a minute after the half-hour mark hit the crossbar, after missing a free-kick of his own just inches off target ten minutes into the game.
England were never concrete in the defence and were lucky not to have conceded on 15 minutes, when Phil Jagieka’s clearance fell to Cristian Rodriguez, whose rising effort from 25 yards just cleared the bar with Joe Hart well beaten.
Suarez broke the deadlock seven minutes before the break. Gerrard conceded possession in the midfield, allowing Edinson Cavani to deliver a prefect cross to Suarez, who pulled away from Jagielka to head across Hart.
Daniel Sturridge came up with a response, but a chance to repeat another instant leveler akin to that against Italy in Manaus, was denied by an alert Fernando Muslera.
Suarez missed a couple of chances early on in the second-half and Cavani should have doubled the lead on 52 minutes, when he screwed a one-on-one with Hart terribly wide.
Hodgson made some changes to his side, worthy of note was Ross Barkley for Raheem Sterling, whose light faded against Tabarez’s men.
Rooney restored parity in the 75th minute, tapping in from close range Glen Johnson’s perfect cross- his first World Cup goal since making his debut in Germany eight years ago and his 40th for England.
But Suarez spoiled all chances of an England redemption, latching on to the ball after Gerrard lost an aerial challenge with the imposing Cavani, steadied well before blasting a powerful one into the roof of the net.
Every attempt to rescue a point failed to yield result and England now wait on tomorrow to realise their fate.
