Luis Suarez’s double has given Uruguay a vital win over England in their World Cup Group D clash.

Suarez started for Uruguay in San Paulo after only having had knee surgery last month. However, he was deemed fit to take part in tonight’s do or die game.

Luis Suarez’s double has given Uruguay a vital win over England in their World Cup Group D clash.

Suarez started for Uruguay in San Paulo after only having had knee surgery last month. However, he was deemed fit to take part in tonight’s do or die game.

The goalscorer sat out the first match with Costa Rica, but Coach Oscar Tabarez put the former Ajax man in for Diego Forlan.

Juventus’” data-scaytid=”4″>Juventus’ Martin Caceres started at right-back, whilst former Lazio” data-scaytid=”6″>Lazio goalkeeper Fernando Muslera also featured.

The Three Lions meanwhile named an unchanged XI from the team that lost to Italy last Saturday.

Following an evenly matched opening period in which England looked shaky defending corners, it was Roy Hodgson’s team who came so close to taking the lead. Wayne Rooney’s free-kick from 20 yards beat Fernando Muslera all ends up, but it flew agonisingly wide.

On 15 minutes, it was the Uruguayans’ turn to go close. Some sloppy defending by the Three Lions allowed Cristian Rodriguez a shot at goal, but his cleanly hit drive rose just over Joe Hart’s crossbar.

The South Americans were in the ascendency and they went close again ten minutes later, following a period of superiority. A well worked corner routine ended with the ball at the feet of Edinson Cavani, but he couldn’t quite keep his effort down.

The game’s first controversial incident occurred on 28 minutes. Diego Godin, already booked for a handball early on, cynically fouled Daniel Sturridge. It looked a second yellow, but Spanish referee Carlos Carballo elected to only award the free kick.

Two minutes later, Rooney went even closer than his first effort when he hit the bar from Steven Garrard’s free kick.

However, it was Uruguay who had the lead seven minutes before the break. Some weak play by the English in midfield allowed the South Americans to counter. Cavani’s pinpoint cross found Suarez, who headed home.

England’s response was positive but they could not find an equaliser and they had it all to do in the second half.

It was almost two for Uruguay and Suarez three minutes after the restart. The Liverpool man whipped in a devilish corner which was heading in, only for Hart to get across in time to parry it away.

Suarez then dragged another shot wide and Cavani should have done better when through on goal as England were run ragged in the opening period after the break.

They were almost level shortly afterwards against the run of player. Rooney, however, saw a left foot effort well saved by Muslera.

The South Americans had cause for concern just after the hour mark. Defender Alvaro Pereira was knocked unconscious after Raheem Sterling’s knee caught him in the face, entirely accidentally. He was, however, okay to continue.

The Three Lions threw Ross Barkley and Adam Lallana on but were looking increasingly frustrated. It was slightly out of the blue therefore that a vital equaliser came 15 minutes from time.

An excellent England move down the right involving Sturridge and Glen Johnson ended with the full back playing the ball across for Rooney to tap home. It was his first goal at a World Cup finals.

England briefly ran with the momentum following the equaliser but Uruguay soon stabilised. It was however out of nothing that the South Americans retook the lead with five minutes to go.

A long ball forward by Muslera was inadvertently flicked on by Gerrard and put that man again Suarez through. The forward made no mistake, bearing down on goal to clinically smash the ball past Hart and win the match for his team.

It was a crushing blow for Hodgson's side, who ran out of time to conjure up a second response. They now know they will be out of the World Cup with one match to spare should Italy fail to beat Costa Rica tomorrow. Uruguay, meanwhile, have a tournament lifeline.

England 1 – 2 Uruguay

Suarez 39 & 85 (U), Rooney 75 (E)

England: Hart, Johnson, Jagielka, Cahill, Baines, Gerrard, Henderson (Lambert 87), Sterling (Barkley 64), Rooney, Welbeck (Lallana 71), Sturridge.

Uruguay: Muslera, Cáceres, Giménez, Godín, Pereira, Álvaro González (Fucile 78), Ríos, Lodeiro (Stuani 67), Rodríguez, Cavani, Suárez (Coates 88).

Referee: Carlos Carballo (Spain)

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