This was certainly not a match with few talking points.
Let’s start with the actual match. Italy only needed a draw to advance, while Uruguay needed a win. Not surprisingly, Italy owned midfield possession for most of the first half, but Uruguay seemed to have the better of chances. Halftime brought a change from Italy, as Mario Balotelli — who picked up a yellow card in the first half — was subbed out. However, the match didn’t change much, as Italy still wasn’t getting too many clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities. Ciro Immobile, who was so dangerous during the Serie A campaign, couldn’t seem to get on the same page with the Italy midfielders, rarely getting free in space.
And everything changed in the 60th minute, when Italy’s Claudio Marchisio was given a straight red card for a reckless challenge. Some questioned the decision, but Marchisio came in studs up — and not all that close to the ball. Down to 10 men, Italy bunkered down in a 5-3-1/5-4-0 formation and allowed Uruguay to push forward. Uruguay’s Christian Rodriguez missed perhaps the best chance of the match, knocking a ball wide on an open shot from about 12 yards out.
Then came the 80th minute — and perhaps the biggest talking point of the World Cup so far.
Uruguay star striker Luis Suarez, maybe the best player in Europe this past season, was involved in an altercation in the Italy penalty box with defender Giorgio Chiellini. On replay, it showed that Suarez appeared to bite Chiellini on the shoulder, and still photos of Chiellini’s shoulder seemed to confirm it. Suarez was not discplined on the pitch, and was able to stay on.
On the ensuing corner kick, Uruguay defender Diego Godin finished a header into the back of the net to give them a 1-0 lead over Italy.
The last 15 minutes were filled with Italy bombing forward, Uruguay counterattacks — and discussion of the Suarez incident.
After five additional minutes, Uruguay was victorious, and advanced to the knockout stage. Meanwhile, we might have seen the last of Suarez in this year’s World Cup.
Source: CBSSports