No prizes for guessing who dominated the headlines in South America yesterday. The best of the continent's sides four years ago, Uruguay had looked set to miss out on the Latin party that is warming up nicely in Brazil after an atrocious first game defeat to minnows Costa Rica.
But the injured Luis Suárez could not play in that game. Yesterday he was back. Today and two quality goals later he is everywhere: King, Superman and the Boy from Liverpool.
His photo covers the entire front page of Uruguay's El Observador under the headline 'Prócer' – great man, famous son and independence hero, all of it packed into the meaning of one short word.
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“Luis Suárez returns and kills,” roared the traditionally stuffy
El País
in Montevideo.
“On your feet sirs, salute his Majesty, Luis IX, the King of Uruguayan football, who made his people happy with goals, who made them dream, he who fights until he can give no more . . . who silenced the English who abused him all game, who returned life to Uruguay in this Cup, he is the King.”
In Brazil they know better than most how the garra charrúa – the fierce clawing determination – of Uruguayan football has allowed this small nation of just three million people punch so far above it weight. So some claimed they say this coming.
"Everyone knew it. This was a game made for Uruguay," observed O Globo. "Faced like a final, with the noose around the throat, just like the Celeste is used to. To be favourite is not part of the two-time world champions' history. To do the almost impossible, yes."
And England? The cover of Brazil's sports daily Lance! has a mock-up of Sturridge, Gerrard, Rooney and Hodgson on the iconic Abbey Road zebra crossing over a headline that asked "Bye bye?".
"The British [Brazil's press has always been hazy on the subtleties of the United Kingdom's various nationalities] fell again, they are half a step from elimination. Just to conform with tradition," sniffed Antero Greco in Estado de S.Paulo.
There was also praise for Colombia who became the second South American side to secure passage to the knock-out stages thanks to their win against the Ivory Coast and the subsequent drab 0-0 draw between Japan and Greece.
Travelling suppor
t After years of underperforming, there is now among the huge travelling support – an estimated 47,000 Colombians were in the Mané Garrincha stadium in Brasília – and people back home gathering belief that the perfect start to the tournament means this year could see something special because in the words of
El Espectador
“this team… gives us the reasons to dream”.
Unfortunately the headlines were not just about the football yesterday. Brazil’s press also reported the attack by Brazilians on English fans drinking in a bar near São Paulo’s fan fest zone before their team’s match against Uruguay. The Brazilians set off flares in the direction of the bar, provoking panic though no injuries. Police said they arrested 14 suspected members of an ultra group of local club Corinthians – but they were later released despite being detained with flares, knives and knuckle-dusters.
