FIFA World Cup
UruguayUruguay2EnglandEngland1

World Cup 2014: Uruguay 2-1 England

By Phil McNultyChief football writer at Arena de Sao Paulo
Suarez scores twice as England lose 2-1 at the World Cup

Story of the match:

  • England on verge of elimination
  • Suarez scores twice for Uruguay
  • Rooney equalises with 15 minutes left
  • England out unless Italy beat Costa Rica

Luis Suarez left England on the brink of a World Cup exit as his brace gave Uruguay victory in Sao Paulo.

The Liverpool striker was making his returnexternal-link after a month out following knee surgery - and it proved to be bad timing for England as his brilliance was the difference in a fiercely-fought encounter.

Suarez put Uruguay ahead with a first-half header then scored a superb winner six minutes from time after Wayne Rooney's first goal at a World Cup gave England hope of avoiding a second successive Group D loss.

Defeat means the odds are now stacked against Roy Hodgson's England escaping this tough group.

They will be out unless Italy, who beat them in Manaus, defeat Costa Rica on Friday.

England also need Italy to win their final game against Uruguay, which would then give them the chance of qualifying on goal difference if they beat Costa Rica next Tuesday.

But for all the potential, a record of played two, lost two rarely adds up to anything other than elimination at the World Cup. No side have ever progressed after losing their first two matches.

And what an anti-climax it will be for manager Hodgson and his players if England are left playing for nothing other than pride in their final group game in Belo Horizonte.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez claimed Suarez would not be fully fit for the game against England after missing his country's opening 3-1 defeat against Costa Rica.

Luis Suarez heads Uruguay in front against England

Suarez may not have been, but he still possessed too much guile and menace for an England team who never built on the promise they showed in losing to Italy.

Rooney struck the bar before he scored and was England's main threat, but Uruguay - or to be more precise Suarez - produced the quality and clinical finishing that decides games such as this.

As expected, Hodgson played Rooney in a more central role and moved Raheem Sterling wide, but England struggled to find the energy levels that had fuelled such a positive performance against Italy.

Daniel Sturridge and Sterling could not pose the same threat as they had in Manaus either, Instead, it was Rooney who came closest, firing a first-half free-kick just inches wide and then powering a far-post header against the bar from one yard out.

At the back, England looked nervous and were fortunate to survive when Phil Jagielka's sliced clearance fell to Cristian Rodriguez, whose rising drive from the angle just cleared the bar with goalkeeper Joe Hart beaten.

Watch Rooney score for England at 2014 World Cup

Uruguay were the more ordered side and their opening goal arrived from the most inevitable source seven minutes before half-time.

Steven Gerrard conceded possession in midfield and, from Edinson Cavani's perfect cross, Suarez pulled away from Jagielka to head past Hart.

As England heads dropped, the former Ajax forward celebrated with the Uruguayan medical team who have nursed him back to fitness.

England, as they did against Italy, responded strongly, forcing Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera to block a Sturridge effort at his near post.

In a chaotic start to the second half, Suarez was wasteful and Cavani was guilty of a bad miss.

Rooney then found room in the area only eight yards out, but shot straight at Muslera.

Hodgson, knowing what defeat would mean, made his first change after 64 minutes by sending on Ross Barkley for Sterling, who had struggled to impose himself on Uruguay as he had against the Italians.

Luis Suarez strike wins it for Uruguay

England were moving into desperate times as the clock ran down - and it was Rooney who produced the goods with the equaliser 15 minutes from time, tapping in from close range from Glen Johnson's perfect cross.

Just as the momentum looked to be shifting towards England, Suarez was the tormentor again.

He latched on to a long punt from Muslera, which Gerrard could only flick on with his head, and then steadied himself before rifling an unstoppable finish past Hart.

It was the final word on this game - and probably on England's 2014 World Cup hopes in Brazil.

View more pictures of England's defeat here.

World Cup: England v Uruguay - Luis Suarez puts Uruguay 1-0 ahead
England have conceded eight goals in their last three World Cup matches, as many as their previous 14
Wayne Rooney's first goal at a World Cup finals put England level.
Wayne Rooney's first goal at a World Cup took him level with Michael Owen on 40 England goals
World Cup: Uruguay v England - England fans
Thousands of fans backed England, but it is the first time they have lost their first two World Cup games
World Cup: England v Uruguay - Luis Suarez puts Uruguay 2-0 ahead
Uruguay had two attempts on target in the match - and Luis Suarez scored with both
World Cup: England v Uruguay - Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard
Uruguay ended a run of 15 matches without a win against European opposition at the World Cup

Line-ups

Uruguay

Formation 5-3-2

  • 1Muslera
  • 20GonzálezSubstituted forFucileat 78'minutes
  • 6Pereira
  • 22Cáceres
  • 3GodínBooked at 9mins
  • 13Giménez
  • 14LodeiroSubstituted forStuaniat 67'minutes
  • 17Arévalo Rios
  • 9SuárezSubstituted forCoatesat 88'minutes
  • 21Cavani
  • 7Rodríguez

Substitutes

  • 2Lugano
  • 4Fucile
  • 5Gargano
  • 8Hernández
  • 10Forlán
  • 11Stuani
  • 12Muñoz
  • 15Pérez
  • 18Ramírez
  • 19Coates
  • 23M Silva

England

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Hart
  • 2Johnson
  • 3Baines
  • 14HendersonSubstituted forLambertat 87'minutes
  • 5Cahill
  • 6Jagielka
  • 19SterlingSubstituted forBarkleyat 64'minutes
  • 4GerrardBooked at 68mins
  • 9Sturridge
  • 10Rooney
  • 11WelbeckSubstituted forLallanaat 71'minutes

Substitutes

  • 7Wilshere
  • 8Lampard
  • 12Smalling
  • 13Foster
  • 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
  • 16Jones
  • 17Milner
  • 18Lambert
  • 20Lallana
  • 21Barkley
  • 22Forster
  • 23Shaw
Referee:
Carlos Velasco Carballo
Attendance:
62,575

Match Stats

Home TeamUruguayAway TeamEngland
Possession
Home38%
Away62%
Shots
Home8
Away12
Shots on Target
Home2
Away6
Corners
Home7
Away6
Fouls
Home17
Away12

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Uruguay 2, England 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Uruguay 2, England 1.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Phil Jagielka (England) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Wayne Rooney with a cross following a corner.

  4. Post update

    Corner, England. Conceded by Sebastián Coates.

  5. Post update

    Attempt missed. Steven Gerrard (England) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Gary Cahill.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Rickie Lambert (England).

  7. Post update

    Diego Godín (Uruguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  8. Substitution

    Substitution, Uruguay. Sebastián Coates replaces Luis Suarez.

  9. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  10. Post update

    Delay in match Luis Suarez (Uruguay) because of an injury.

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, England. Rickie Lambert replaces Jordan Henderson.

  12. Post update

    Wayne Rooney (England) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  13. Post update

    Foul by José María Giménez (Uruguay).

  14. Goal!

    Goal! Uruguay 2, England 1. Luis Suarez (Uruguay) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the centre of the goal.

  15. Post update

    Corner, Uruguay. Conceded by Gary Cahill.

  16. Post update

    Corner, Uruguay. Conceded by Gary Cahill.

  17. Post update

    Daniel Sturridge (England) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Jorge Fucile (Uruguay).

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Uruguay. Jorge Fucile replaces Álvaro González.

  20. Post update

    Attempt saved. Daniel Sturridge (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Leighton Baines with a cross.

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Brazil21103124
2Mexico21101014
3Croatia21015323
4Cameroon200205-50

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Netherlands22008356
2Chile22005146
3Australia200236-30
4Spain200217-60

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Colombia22005146
2Ivory Coast21013303
3Japan100112-10
4Greece100103-30

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Costa Rica11003123
2Italy11002113
3Uruguay210134-13
4England200224-20

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1France11003033
2Switzerland11002113
3Ecuador100112-10
4Honduras100103-30

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Argentina11002113
2Iran10100001
3Nigeria10100001
4Bos-Herze100112-10

G

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Germany11004043
2USA11002113
3Ghana100112-10
4Portugal100104-40

H

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Belgium11002113
2Football Union of Russia10101101
3South Korea10101101
4Algeria100112-10
View full FIFA World Cup tables

Top Stories