Luis Suarez is 100% fit and ready for game Uruguay know they can't afford to lose
The serene
setting has echoes of England’s remote base in South Africa, isolated in
the red-dirt countryside of a state mined for precious metals and
gemstones.
Yet
behind the iron gates of the Uruguayan camp in Sete Lagoas, there has
been great turmoil and upheaval and an inquest into Saturday’s humbling
3-1 defeat at the hands of Costa Rica.
‘We
got really heated up after the game,’ said captain Diego Lugano and
although the fury has since subsided it has been replaced by paranoia
ahead of Thursday’s date with England.
Ready to go: Suarez sat out Uruguay's opener but believes he will be fit to play against England
High stakes: Uruguay defender Lugano described Thursday's game against England a 'life or death'.
Uruguay
manager Oscar Tabarez is convinced someone had been spying on a
behind-closed-doors training session on Sunday, and glimpsed his
tactical plans for a game both teams must win to avoid an early flight
out of Brazil.
There
was heavy security and an aggressive door policy in operation at the JN
Resort Hotel yesterday in defiance of the giant ‘Bem Vindo’ welcome
sign above the door.
Tabarez
and Lugano both spoke at a brief press conference, immediately after
which all but selected Uruguayan media were marched not only out of the
hotel but beyond the perimeter fence by security staff to find shade
near the cattle.
Central
to the intrigue has been the fitness of Luis Suarez who, during the
supposed-to-be-secret training session, partnered Edinson Cavani in
attack.
Suarez
had knee surgery ahead of the World Cup and has been in a race against
time ever since. Despite insisting he would be fit, he watched from the
sidelines, in his kit, as an unused substitute against Costa Rica.
Officially, yesterday, there were few clues about whether he would return against England in Sao Paulo.
Paranoia: Oscar Tabarez, the Urugayan coach, thinks that there have been spies at their training sessions
Shock defeat: Lugano, left, was disappointed about the Costa Rica game and said Uruguay 'got heated up'
‘It
is a possibility,’ said Tabarez. ‘That is our dream,’ said Lugano. As
for Suarez, he spoke later and reiterated his belief that he is ready
for action.
‘I
did not miss any days of my recovery,’ said Suarez. ‘At no time did I
think I would miss the World Cup. If I play, it is because I am 100 per
cent.’
He
also flashed a warning to England, who started with five Liverpool
players in the team that lost 2-1 against Italy on Saturday. ‘I know all
the players in the England team, either as team-mates or opponents,’
said Suarez.
‘They
have defensive deficiencies that I can take advantage of, but I will
not say how. We have to move forward with strong character. Trust us.’
Those
words seem to confirm what the Uruguayan press are convinced of; that
he will start on Thursday, one of three changes to the team beaten in
the Group D opener.
Threat: Arsenal's Joel Campbell scored for Costa Rica as they shocked Uruguay in their first game
Southampton’s
Gaston Ramirez is also expected to come in and experienced Porto
defender Jorge Fucile will replace Alvaro Pereira who was sent off
against Costa Rica.
‘We
are going to change everything,’ said Tabarez. ‘We need to win. So do
England. We need to change attitude and put different measures in
place.’
The
Costa Rica defeat did not go down well back home, seen as proof by many
that this team is in its death throes after a glorious ride to World
Cup semi-finals in 2010 and the Copa America title in 2011.
The
bulk of the squad is the same, but the feeling is they have grown old
and slow together, laboured through qualification, stumbling into the
World Cup via a play-off against Jordan and that Tabarez, a legend at
the helm for eight years, cannot go any further.
Uruguay’s
aim, of course, is to disprove this theory but first they must beat
England. ‘It is our greatest challenge,’ said Lugano.
‘It is life or death. England are the favourites but we have the strength for the battle.
Fit again: Suarez returned to Uruguay training and is confident that he can play against England on Thursday
Up and coming: ¿They have young, quick players with great potential,' Tabarez said of England
‘Against
Costa Rica we were bad. Everyone was annoyed. The details were wrong
and we were unable to change, but now we are united again.’
England
supporters will fear the return of Suarez but Tabarez spoke of concern
about the pace and variety at Roy Hodgson’s disposal.
‘England
deserved better luck against Italy,’ said the 67-year-old former
teacher. ‘They have young, quick players with great potential, but
someone like Steven Gerrard is someone we cannot neglect.’
And
with this compliment, the hospitality abruptly ended. Tabarez was gone
and the bouncers moved in to chase all but the chosen few from the
premises, out into the sun-baked hills of Minas Gerais
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