World Cup 2018: Luis Suarez bids to leave positive mark after bite that made him villain worldwide

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Tom Collomosse14 June 2018

Every player arrives at the World Cup with something to prove but few crave redemption quite as much as Luis Suarez does.

Four years ago in Brazil, the Uruguay forward was condemned worldwide for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during a group game in Natal.

Suarez received a nine-match ban from the international game and a four-month suspension from all football. At that stage, it seemed doubtful whether he would play for his country again.

Suarez has rebuilt his reputation at club level, winning the Champions League wit

h Barcelona in 2015 and winning three domestic titles.

He has been prolific in front of goal and formed an outstanding partnership with Lionel Messi.

Yet when Suarez walks out in Ekaterinburg to face Egypt on Friday lunchtime, he knows those watching will be thinking of one thing: the moment he sank his teeth into the startled Chiellini’s shoulder.

AFP/Getty Images

At 31, Suarez also knows this is his last chance to leave a positive mark on the World Cup. In South Africa in 2010, Suarez was one of the emerging stars of the tournament but tarnished his growing reputation during the quarter-final against Ghana.

With seconds of extra time remaining and the score 1-1, Suarez handled the ball on the line, stopping Dominic Adiyiah’s header from sending Ghana into the semi-finals — the first time an African nation would have reached the last four. Suarez was shown the red card and left the field in tears, only for Asamoah Gyan to miss the penalty and Uruguay to win the shoot-out. Suarez had reprieved his team but in the eyes of many neutrals, he was the villain.

Can he be remembered for the right reasons in Russia?

The prospects are good: Uruguay have a highly winnable group, in which they face Egypt tomorrow, before taking on the hosts and Saudi Arabia.

Even though they have rarely performed effectively in World Cups outside their own continent, Uruguay have a strong squad, with Suarez and Edinson Cavani in attack, Atletico Madrid pair Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez in central defence and the energetic Inter Milan midfielder Matias Vecino keeping them ticking. They also have Lucas Torreira, a potential Arsenal signing.

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Their chances will improve again if Mohamed Salah, the most popular forward at Liverpool since Suarez departed in 2014, cannot recover from a shoulder injury in time to play. Less than 24 hours before the game, Egypt remain uncertain about their best player.

“We are never known for being favourites,” said midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta.

“Our trick is always to be humble and go from match to match.

“We are working hard and we are confident in reaching our goals. We will see how far we can go.”

Few expect Uruguay to add a third World Cup to the titles they won in 1930 and 1950. But if Suarez is at his best, then their team will certainly carry plenty of bite.

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