Italy 0-1 Uruguay World Cup 2014 match report: Luis Suarez BITES Giorgio Chiellini before Diego Godin heads the ball home
Diego Godin's late, late header was enough for Uruguay as they beat Italy in an ill-tempered affair in Natal.
Luis Suarez had appeared to earlier bite Giorgio Chiellini as the pair tussled in the box and Claudio Marchisio was sent off for a terrible high challenge on Arevalo Rios after the break.
In what was one of, if not the, worst game of this World Cup so far, Suarez again stole the show for a moment of disgusting petulance and now faces a lengthy ban - if FIFA decide to act upon the incident.
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ITALY vs URUGUAY (5pm)
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Italy: TBC
Uruguay: TBC
Godin's late, late header was enough for Uruguay as they beat Italy in an ill-tempered affair in Natal.
Luis Suarez had appeared to earlier bite Chiellini as the pair tussled in the box and Marchisio was sent off for a terrible high challenge on Rios after the break.
In what was one of, if not the, worst game of this World Cup so far, Suarez again stole the show for a moment of disgusting petulance and now faces a lengthy ban - if FIFA decide to act upon the incident.
Pirlo over the free-kick. Buffon up. Comes to nothing and that should be that.
They've played it quickly, but Cassano's ball in was too quick... Uruguay are away... Suarez hits it! Wide!
Two minutes now remain for Italy to save their World Cup skins... They've still not created a genuine chance.
Italy have forever been one ball away from creating something since the sending off, but are on their last legs.
Hardly surprising, given the unbelievable amount of work the officials have had to get through since half-time.
Suarez has not only bitten an opponent this afternoon, he's passed up the opportunity to lay in not one, but two team-mates who were in the clear.
Decision-making severely lacking today.
87mins: Italy almost dance their way through but Antonio Cassano cannot latch on to the final ball.
Pirlo. Thirty-five yards out, as an Italian coach is sent to the stands for quite rightly fuming over the Suarez incident.
And that's close! It takes a nick on the way wide for a corner.
It's Godin! Bosh! The skipper is up for a corner and has a run on Ramirez's delivery, nodding in what could well be the goal to send Italy out of the World Cup!
Just seconds after Suarez bit an opponent yet again. There is no justice.
Handbags again now as Suarez and Chiellini are both down in the area.
Oh, and SUAREZ HAS BITTEN CHIELLINI!!! He just cannot help himself. And Suarez has lost a tooth biting him. Reckless. Scandalous. Will this man ever learn? Despicable behaviour.
Booking for De Sciglio now as Rodriguez makes way for Gaston Ramirez! We're saved!
Ouch! Cavani has stamped right on Verratti's toe and that seems to have yielded instant cramp for the midfielder. Always nasty.
Thiago Motta is coming on in his place.
Uruguay have still only manufactured that one chance for Suarez around ten minutes ago.
71mins: Cassano is entering the fray, coming on for Immobile, who hasn't been the best I must admit.
Immobile slid down the side by Pirlo and Giminez makes a huge covering tackle. Headed clear and the chance has gone.
66mins: Suarez is in... and what a save Buffon!! One-on-one with the keeper after Cavani's reverse ball and the striker draws a brilliant tip wide!
We have a game on now, folks.
That's high and wide from Pirlo, who lets fly from 30 yards out. A little bit desperate, just keep the ball.
It's a shame that its taken a red card to make this game interesting but that's what has happened here. Machisimo's foot was dreadfully high and he had to go. Uruguay have no excuses now but they have to find another gear.
Off comes Pereira and Stuani is on in his place. Always liked the look of him when I've seen him.
I was just saying this was a touch violent and Marchisio has gone straight over the ball there and smacked into Rios' calf! Terrible, terrible challenge and exceptionally cowardly.
Uruguay to take the game by the scruff of the neck now?
CHANCE! A PROPER CHANCE!
Finally... Uruguay get in behind, a wonderful dink by Suarez through to Rodriguez but the winger, seeing Buffon haring out, drives wide.
We're now up to 28 fouls during this affair, if you can label it that. Affairs usually have something about them. It's been a little bit violent, but in a rather tepid way. The worst we've seen is Balotelli's ill-judged barge in the back. That's been more exciting than any of the football on show.
56mins: Now, Italy have a bit of territory for the first time since the break. Chiellini strides forward into midfield to find Parolo, whose stinging effort is blocked by Godin and the attack eventually comes to nothing.
52mins: Plenty of gesturing and gesticulating but not an ounce of quality. This has started as the first half finished, summed up by Suarez's free-kick flying over everyone and crossbar from a decent area on the left.
This. Is. Dismal.
That's better from Rodriguez, who is driving at Barzagli. We didn't see enough of that during the first half.
Caceres is down and looks in come discomfort. It certainly wasn't a foul from Parolo but the Uruguay man just slipped before careering into him.
Anyway, we're back underway and Rios is already in the book! Bit niggly through the back on Verratti to set a marker early doors.
Parolo is coming on for Italy, but for who? It's for Mario Balotelli! Maxi Pereira has come on for Lodeiro for Uruguay too.
You would have to assume that Mario is off because of an injury, although he was decidedly poor during that first half.
Luis Suarez hasn't been having the best of it today thus far. He's roaming but not really able to get hold of possession from deep.
Uruguay haven't got anyone from midfield able to drive on and help the Liverpool man and Cavani.
Here is his MailOnline heatmap.
And not one was forward.
Italy and Uruguay are in danger of serving up the worst game of this World Cup so far as they go into the break goalless.
It will suit Cesare Prandelli's side, who only need a point today, but the South Americans have offered little and only have a Luis Suarez half-chance to show for their efforts.
Ridiculous challenge from Darmain, charging into Pereira when he had no way of winning the ball. Decent area, this.
Good delivery from Suarez as Barzagli nods over his own crossbar. Corner, which is then hooked away but Chiellini is down and looks in some distress. Not sure why though, because Cavani has just dragged him to the floor.
Italy happy to see this out until half-time if possible. It's had a pre-season feel to it, not a winner takes all final group game.
And this is what we've been reduced to. Caceres is way into his own half, looks ahead and sees nothing, so decides to chip Buffon from 70 yards.
It went wide. I know.
You will have noticed by the pictures beneath this that one would describe the opening 37 minutes as a... err... battle.
33mins: Now, that's better from Uruguay! Suarez sparks into life on the edge, plays a one-two with Gonzalez, but Buffon is out quickly to smother the effort. Lodeiro's follow-up then safely handled by the goalkeeper, who was called into action for the first time.
Balotelli is shrugging and moaning after suffering a heavy tackle from Godin, but - as Ian Ladyman suggested before - he just looks in a mood. Prandelli tells him to get on with it.
30mins: Chance! Immobile! Over! Swept in, he's all alone 12 yards out and the striker has just swung a leg at it. End result? Ballooned over.
Brilliant flick from Pirlo - not too dissimilar to David Villa's finish yesterday - sets Marchisio free but he's wasteful in possession. The first bit of genuine quality.
27mins: That's what you want to see from Italy. Barzagli breaks from his central defensive station and goes to join in, ending in a blocked shot. But they're taking the game to Uruguay, just as Balotelli fires wide too.
Balotelli's booking had been coming from the start of the game and was the culmination of a succession of niggling fouls. The Italian striker looks like he's in a bit of a mood today and I don't mean a good one.
This is still a very poor game, by the way.
Well this has been coming. The first yellow card of the afternoon and it's Mr Balotelli! High challenge on Pereira - he's gone right through him with a mysterious cocked knee - to be honest - and that caution means he'll miss the last-16 game should they qualify.
20mins: First sniff for Uruguay. Suarez wriggles on the edge but Cavani - running across the near stick - can only miscontrol wide. That is the nearest they've come.
'No no, you're the incompetent plank.'
19mins: Long, hopeful ball up for Suarez but he's crowded out by Bonucci and Chiellini. Very much the pattern of play thus far.
16mins: Better hunting in packs by Uruguay in midfield but the front two are lapse in their movement and nothing comes from the break away. Not a criticism you can often level at Suarez, who doesn't appear comfortable against this back three.
The Liverpool man doesn't seem sure whether to drop off, come wide or pick holes.
12mins: Poor from a Pirlo set piece! Who'd have thought?! Wide on the right, men waiting in the box, and the playmaker hits the second man.
He'll have another chance from the left now though as Balotelli buys a free-kick 35 yards out. And he's had a shot! Pirlo has hit straight through that, getting dip and zip, with the goalkeeper tipping over.
Corner is eventually scrambled away. Worrying moments for the Uruguayans.
Ugly game so far here in Natal. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised with so much being at stake. Balotelli has already taken some studs to the his ankle while Suarez has had a whack across the shins. In terms of football, there hasn't really been any.
Clumsy from Verratti wide on the left but Buffon gets a big fist to clear before Chiellini is barged in the back by Gonzalez. He's not overly impressed but the challenge looked fair enough to me.
Anyway, nothing comes of it regardless.
6mins: First bit of sustained possession for the Italians before losing out to Suarez in midfield, who is then rolling around after a late challenge by Barzagli. No ebb just yet.
Mario Balotelli is limping here after a coming together with two Uruguayan defenders. I'm sure he'll be fine but he's nowhere near freely jogging.
Bright start by Uruguay, who need to win today. They'll be on the front foot from the off with Cavani dropping off and bringing his wide men into play.
Italy get us underway in Natal. Huge 90 minutes in store from now.
Here we go...
Uruguay, unsurprisingly, are outnumbering the Italians in Natal. Ferocious anthem as the swathes of supporters try and create a bit of hostility.
Only Mario not joining in with the ITALIA anthem, but what's new? Buffon shuts his eyes and belts it out, as you'd expect.
The teams are in the tunnel. No flinching from skippers Buffon and Godin. Grins, flashes across to the other one, and out they come...
Big afternoon in store for Andrea Pirlo. Keeping the ball with care is absolutely imperative for the Italians, particularly because Uruguay are very adept at hitting teams on the counter with the deadly duo Cavani and Suarez up front.
Here's a little look into the 'home' dressing room...
From Sportsmail's match preview: Suarez looks to be back to his best – despite supposedly lacking fitness. That means Chiellini will need to be at his destructive best to stop the Uruguay talisman from tearing the Italian defence apart. He'll need to starve Suarez of service but even then the Liverpool striker will pick up on any little mistake to exploit and punish Italy.
Suddenly it feels different. Speculation about Luis Suarez's future is nothing new but this time, almost in the blink of an eye, his departure from Liverpool seems inevitable.
'Why?' you will ask. Liverpool, after all, have not been approached by any club in Europe about Suarez since Arsenal's ham-fisted £40million plus £1 offer last July nor has he personally told Brendan Rodgers or members of Anfield's hierarchy that he wants to leave.
Furthermore, the impression in the dressing room is that Suarez wants to give Liverpool 12 more months, to sample Champions League nights at Anfield and help the club attempt to go one place better after that remarkable pursuit of the Barclays Premier League trophy last season.
Simon Jones: Liverpool remain hopeful that Luis Suarez will stay at Anfield at the start of the season despite the rumblings of intent emanating from Spain.
Barcelona and Real Madrid will both make bids for Suarez this summer but so far none have been received.
Liverpool have enquired about the availability of Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona, who the Catalans are willing to sell, but a part-exchange deal involving Suarez has yet to be discussed.
Again, supporters are again all smiles at this World Cup. It's been a fantastic week and a half so far and looks set to continue today.
Mexico's thumping win against Croatia was the first of the real knockout football last night, and if these two go at it with as much gusto we're in for another special encounter.
Mario Balotelli's fianceé Fanny - Italy's cheerleader - is already in the house. The AC Milan striker is starting alongside Immobile up front for Cesare Prandelli's side and will have a key role to play in holding the ball up, particularly if Uruguay start brightly.
Muslera, Caceres, Gimenez, Godin, A.Pereira, Gonzalez, Arevalo Rios, Rodriguez, Lodeiro, Cavani, Suarez.
Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Marchisio, De Sciglio, Verratti, Pirlo, Darmian, Balotelli, Immobile.
Right, permutation time.
Italy need a point to go through - it really is that simple.
Uruguay need a win; easy as that.
Whoever does clinch three points this afternoon must hope that England beat Costa Rica (yep) by enough goals in order to top the group. Highly unlikely I would suggest.
England? No way. This is the one you want to follow! We've got a treat in store here as Uruguay and Italy gun for that second last-16 spot from Group D in Natal.
Both have somehow conspired to lose against Costa Rica, which means this isn't the dead rubber it might've been.
Suarez starts. Balotelli starts. This ought to be something to behold.
MORE...
- Mario Balotelli and Italy sweat it out in Natal ahead of vital Group D clash with Uruguay
- Italy vs Uruguay: All the stats, facts and teams news for the Group D clash
- CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST: Italy turn to Ciro Immobile, Spain exit World Cup in disgrace and France are delivering for the first time since Euro 2000
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