Smitten or bitten? Some adore Uruguay's Luis Suarez, others cry foul

 

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, who plays his club football with Liverpool, has been accused of biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during a World Cup match on Tuesday, June 24. Suarez has already been banned twice in his career for biting.

Smitten or bitten? Some adore Uruguay's Luis Suarez, others cry foul -- Luis Suarez has made his mark in football, as one of the most feared strikers in the game. 

In more ways than one. 

Since joining the Dutch powerhouse club Ajax in 2007, the Uruguayan has established himself as one of the world's most inventive, tenacious and talented scorers. This past season, Suarez topped all others in England's Premier League with 31 goals. 

But now, it's a mark of a different kind -- near the shoulder of Italian national team defender Giorgio Chiellini -- that has everyone talking. 

TV cameras showed the two tangling during Tuesday's Italy-Uruguay World Cup showdown, with Suarez's head seemingly dipping toward Chiellini. Afterward, the Italian player got up, pulled down his shirt and seemed to passionately indicate he'd been bitten by the Uruguayan striker. 

 

World Cup: The best photos from June 24 

Did soccer star BITE other player?! 

If so, it wouldn't be the first time. There's a reason, after all, that some have dubbed Suarez the "Cannibal of Ajax." 

That dates back to 2010, when Suarez was suspended seven games after leaving a scar near the collarbone of Otman Bakkal while in the Netherlands. 

Soon after moving to Liverpool, he got fined $63,000 and banned eight matches for racist remarks directed at Manchester United's Patrice Evra. 

And let's not forget the 10-game ban he got in 2013 after being found guilty of biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic. 

These actions have helped Suarez become one of the most reviled players in the eyes of his opponents and their fans. 

"If Suarez is guilty, no ban (is) too long," tweeted Ian Darke, ESPN's lead commentator for the World Cup, about Tuesday's incident. "Totally beyond the pale. Alien to football." 

The 27-year-old himself brushed off the accusations after the game, claiming that "it will be complicated" if there is an investigation into "every collision in a football game." 

"The only thing I know is that those are occurrences that happen on the pitch," he said. "I just collided with his shoulder. They are just casual incidences that occur." 

For all his detractors, Suarez has many supporters. That's especially true among those who cheer on his teams -- including, right now, Liverpool and the Uruguayan national squad -- who hail him as "El Pistolero" for consistently firing into the back of the net. 

Born in Salto, a city of about 100,000 people near the Argentinian border, Suarez was a teenager when he began playing in his home country's top domestic league. He was a hit from the get-go, scoring 12 times and 29 appearances to lead his team to a league title in 2006. 

Europe came calling soon thereafter, beginning with a spot on the roster of Groningen in the Netherlands. He moved over to Ajax -- in the same country and, traditionally, one of the best clubs in the world -- in August 2007. 

Suarez ended his first season with Ajax with 20 goals. And he only got better. 

During the 2009-2010 season, the Uruguayan scored 49 times in all competitions, earning him Dutch player of the year honors. 

He made a seamless transition to Liverpool in January 2011. 

Controversy followed him to England, and so did his knack for scoring goals. 

Specifically, No. 7 netted 17 goals in his first full season with Liverpool, according to his official profile. That was just the start, with 30 scores in 2012-2013 and that figure-plus-one in the most recent complete campaign. 

The striker was so good that fellow players in England voted him player of the year. 

Thus, even if some hate him, he is still very much respected. 

And that's probably no more true than in Uruguay, where Suarez has come through time and again for the national team. 

That includes playing a huge role in the small South American nation's remarkable fourth-place finish at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. 

Despite concerns that he might be derailed by a knee injury, Suarez has responded in Brazil as well. He scored both Uruguay goals against England, helping assure that team's hasty departure from the World Cup. 

And Suarez also factored into his team's 1-0 win Tuesday over Italy, even if he didn't score himself. 

With that win, Uruguay is moving on. 

The question is whether Suarez will be joining his teammates in the knockout round -- or whether he'll be suspended for his onfield antics, once again. 

Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl, for one, wondered openly on Twitter how "if Suarez could keep it together for an entire Premier League season, why couldn't he at the World Cup?" 

Roberto Martinez, manager of Premier League club Everton and an ESPN analyst, questioned how such a great player could act out so often -- if that's indeed what he did again Tuesday. 

There is no doubt (about) ... the talent that he has; he can win games single-handedly," Martinez said. "But the behavior, I just seriously think that he needs help. You (have to) control yourself in those moments." ( cnn.com )

READ MORE - Smitten or bitten? Some adore Uruguay's Luis Suarez, others cry foul

Uruguay Defends Luis Suarez as FIFA Scrambles

Uruguay's Luis Suarez holds his teeth after running into Italy's Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder during the group D World Cup soccer match between Italy and Uruguay at the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, June 24, 2014. Ricardo Mazalan/AP Photo 

Uruguay Defends Luis Suarez as FIFA Scrambles  - As the world was judging Uruguay's Luis Suarez for biting a player in the World Cup, his teammates, coaches and fans in his soccer-crazy country defended the star, blaming the foreign media, his Italian opponents and uneven treatment. 

World Cup organizers scrambled Wednesday to quickly decide on a punishment before Uruguay plays Colombia Saturday in the round of 16. 

"We have to resolve it either today or tomorrow," FIFA disciplinary panel member Martin Hong told reporters Wednesday. "It's our duty to see justice done." 

The disciplinary committee meeting was already underway on Wednesday evening, FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer said. 

Wilmar Valdez, Uruguay football federation president, told the Associated Press shortly after midnight local time that the disciplinary hearing will continue Thursday morning. 

"What we know is they (the disciplinary panel) met for a long time," he said. "We don't know if that's a good or a bad situation." 

A day after he tangled with defender Giorgio Chiellini, Suarez was coping well, according to Valdez. 

"Luis is fine. He's been through 1001 battles," he told the online site Tenfield.com on Wednesday. "We all know who Luis is and that's why we have to defend him." 

The bite — just before Uruguay scored the clinching goal to eliminate the four-time champion Italians —will now test FIFA president Sepp Blatter's often-stated commitment to "fair play, discipline, respect." 

Blatter, who was in the crowd for the Uruguay-Italy match at Natal, has pledged a zero tolerance for the darker side of the game. 

Many are questioning where that leaves a player like Suarez, who has a history of disciplinary problems including separate bans of seven and 10 matches for biting opponents in the Netherlands and England. 

Valdez said Uruguay officials were sent a video of the incident by FIFA, and would respond with footage showing Suarez — a striker for Liverpool and last season's player of the year in England's Premier League — as a victim of Italian aggression. 

"When he falls, several substitutes insult him on the ground and some members of Italy's staff even came out of the bench to try to hit him," Valdez said, suggesting FIFA could investigate Italy. 

Uruguay also will cite Brazil star Neymar getting only a yellow card in a clash with a Croatia player, Valdez said. 

Uruguay federation board member Alejandro Balbi, who is Suarez's lawyer, blamed European media reporting. 

"This happened because there have been campaigns launched by the media in England and Italy," Balbi told Uruguayan radio Sport 890. 

Suarez's teammate Diego Lugano agreed. 

"The British media has a vendetta against Suarez, and everyone knows that," he said. "It's obvious the vendetta sells newspapers in England, otherwise you wouldn't be here. Uruguay and Italy played yesterday. On Saturday Uruguay plays Colombia, I don't know why there's a British journalist asking about Suarez." 

Lugano said he had seen "much more violent plays" than the bite at the World Cup. 

"It was a normal taunt in football, and the world press ends up talking about something totally trivial," he said. 

FIFA's case against Suarez — announced early Wednesday — will be managed by a Swiss lawyer, Claudio Sulser, chairman of the FIFA disciplinary committee. A former international forward himself, Sulser has worked for four years at FIFA, first as head of its ethics court. 

Sulser can choose to judge the offense within the scale of typical red-card incidents: A three-match ban may then be appropriate, banishing Suarez at least until the World Cup final should Uruguay advance that far. 

The maximum penalty would be a ban of 24 international matches. 

FIFA can also choose to ban Suarez for up to two years. That would cover club and international games and would ruin a widely speculated transfer to Barcelona or Real Madrid. 

Suarez and the Uruguay football federation had until 5 p.m. local time Wednesday (4 p.m. EDT/2000 GMT) to present a documented defense. 

Completing the case ahead of Saturday's match could be complicated if Suarez appeals. That challenge could go direct to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland for an urgent and binding ruling. 

However, one option open to FIFA and Sulser to avoid that scenario is that a suspension of "fewer than three matches or of up to two months" cannot be appealed, according to FIFA rules. 

Already, one of Suarez's sponsors said it was "reviewing our relationship with him." 

"We will not tolerate unsporting behavior," 888poker said in a Twitter message. 

Last month, the firm announced a global endorsement contract with Suarez, a poker enthusiast. 

adidas, which also has Suarez as a client and is FIFA's longest standing World Cup sponsor, said it was monitoring the case. 

Meanwhile, Suarez was criticized by a Uruguay football great Alcides Ghiggia, the last survivor of the team which defeated Brazil to win the 1950 World Cup. 

Suarez "plays well but he has done things that are not normal for a player nor for a soccer game," Ghiggia told The AP. "I think FIFA can sanction him." ( Associated Press )

READ MORE - Uruguay Defends Luis Suarez as FIFA Scrambles

With its hand forced, FIFA gets Luis Suarez punishment right

With its hand forced, FIFA gets Luis Suarez punishment right - FIFA got one right - The world's governing soccer authority has suspended Uruguay superstar Luis Suarez for nine matches and four months from any soccer-related activity. It will extend into his season with Liverpool in the English Premier League and block his participation from next year's Copa America. The ban is a harsh and appropriate punishment for an appalling act – biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in a match on Tuesday. 

There was no punishment too severe for Suarez, save perhaps a lifetime ban, as his soccer crimes were repeated and severely unsportsmanlike. The bite of Chiellini was his third such incident, and he was also given a suspension for racial slurs directed at Manchester United's Patrice Evra in 2011. 

Suarez's responses to his own acts have been troublingly cavalier. He immediately flopped after sinking his teeth into Chiellini on Tuesday, falling to the turf and checking his teeth as if the Italian's shoulder was the culprit. After the game, he insisted "these collisions happen" in soccer, when in fact they do not. 

Suarez needs help. Biting is an ugly step down from kicking and even scratching. It's a sign of someone unable to control his emotions and properly respect others around him. We can only hope that losing the chance to honor his country with further play will serve as a wake-up call for Suarez, though there have been prior alarms. The 27-year-old from Salto has now been banned from 34 matches since 2010. 

This is certainly the harshest penalty of all, as Suarez is one of the world's most talented players and he will be unable to represent his nation in the World Cup knockout round. A loss by Uruguay in the days or weeks ahead will be met with questions about whether his actions cost his team a chance to go further toward the championship. Ideally, those questions will somehow change the behavior of a player who is a sheer delight to watch when he's at top form.

How will Uruguay fare against Colombia without Luis Suarez? (AFP)

This is also a victory for technology and social media. FIFA often gets these decisions wrong, and the endless loop of replays and photos and Internet discussion of Suarez's behavior surely made the soccer authority's decision unavoidable. Consider: Suarez is one of the most poorly behaved athletes in the world, and he hasn't received a single red card in the last four years. He was not given even a yellow card for his bite, despite the obvious marks on Chiellini's left shoulder. Chiellini himself summed it up best when he said after the incident: "Suarez is a sneak and he gets away with it because FIFA wants their stars to play in the World Cup," he said. 'I'd love to see if they have the courage to use video evidence against him.' 

They did. And they didn't have a choice. 

"Such behaviour cannot be tolerated on any football pitch, and in particular not at a FIFA World Cup when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field," said Claudio Sulser, chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. "The Disciplinary Committee took into account all the factors of the case and the degree of Mr. Suárez's guilt in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Code." 

This World Cup was supposed to be a breakthrough moment for technology, as goal-line cameras were supposed to make the event better for players and fans. It turned out other forms of technology – some old and some very new – helped right a serious wrong. 

Suarez is gone, and the tournament is better off for it.  ( sports.yahoo.com )

READ MORE - With its hand forced, FIFA gets Luis Suarez punishment right

FIFA bans Suarez for 4 months for biting opponent

Hassan Ammar - AP Photo

FIFA bans Suarez for 4 months for biting opponent - Uruguay's Luis Suarez looks out from his hotel in Natal, Brazil, Wednesday, June 25, 2014. On Thursday, June 26, 2014, FIFA banned Suarez for 9 games and 4 months for biting an opponent at the World Cup.

FIFA bans Suarez for 4 months for biting opponent -  Luis Suarez exits the World Cup with one of the longest bans in tournament history, and his reputation once again in tatters.

The Uruguay forward, widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, was banned by FIFA from all football for four months on Thursday for biting an Italian opponent in an incident that marred the team's victory and progression to the second round.

It's the third time he's served a suspension for biting an opponent — after similar incidents at both Ajax in the Dutch league and Liverpool in England — and the second straight World Cup where Suarez exits in disgrace.

The four-month ban will sideline Suarez for the first two months of Liverpool's season. He was also suspended for Uruguay's next nine matches, which extends beyond the four months and rules him out of next year's Copa America, where his team is the defending champion. The Uruguayan football federation said it would appeal.

Aside from Diego Maradona's 15-month suspension for a failed drug test at the 1994 tournament, it's the longest ban handed out to a player at the World Cup. FIFA also fined Suarez 100,000 Swiss francs ($112,000).

Suarez bit the left shoulder of defender Giorgio Chiellini on Tuesday in Natal during Uruguay's 1-0 win over Italy, an incident that went unpunished by the referee but was witnessed by fans around the world on TV. Given Suarez's previous biting incidents, the images went viral immediately.

"Such behavior cannot be tolerated on any football pitch and in particular not at a FIFA World Cup, when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field," Claudio Sulser, chairman of the FIFA disciplinary committee, said in a statement.

The Uruguayan federation was preparing an urgent appeal, as Suarez headed home. FIFA even barred him staying with teammates ahead of their round-of-16 game against Colombia on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro.

"Luis in the next few hours will travel to Montevideo to be with the rest of his family to recover," federation president Wilmar Valdez told reporters.

Suarez scored both goals in Uruguay's 2-1 win over England, a performance that further enhanced a reputation that had gradually been rebuilt following a 10-game suspension for biting a Premier League opponent last May, and an eight-game ban for racially abusing an opponent in 2011. Suarez was voted the English league's best player last season after a campaign void of any disciplinary issues.

But now, the 27-year-old Suarez is the main actor in the World Cup's most damaging episode for a second time.

In the quarterfinals in 2010 in South Africa, his deliberate handball on the goal-line in the final minute of extra time denied Ghana an almost certain winning goal that would have made it the first ever African semifinalist.

Suarez was sent off, and then refused to apologize for his celebratory dance near the players' tunnel where he stayed to watch Ghana miss the resulting penalty. He also shrugged off criticism Tuesday of his bite.

As usual, Uruguay officials and players defended their star player Thursday.

"It feels like Uruguay has been thrown out of the World Cup," Valdez said, denouncing "a severe punishment."

Veteran defender Diego Lugano wrote on his Facebook page that Suarez's family should be "proud of him, he deserves it."

"A hug to Luis, who, as always, will rise," Lugano, captain on the 2010 team, wrote. "Outrage, impotence, I think that's what all of us feel. We all would like a fairer world, but that world simply doesn't exist."

Even Uruguay fans who agreed Suarez's action was "stupid" did not agree with the sanction.

"Uruguay is a small country that eliminated two big nations like Italy and England and it's not for FIFA's benefit to let Uruguay continue playing," supporter Juan Jose Monzillo said in Montevideo.

Suarez's ban extends one game more than Italy defender Mauro Tassotti's eight-match international sanction for elbowing a Spanish opponent in a 1994 World Cup quarterfinal. That incident was also missed by match officials.

By also banning Suarez from all football activities, FIFA also prohibited Suarez from entering a World Cup stadium. He cannot train with Liverpool until the ban ends in late October.

"Hopefully he will realize now that behavior of this type will not be tolerated under any circumstances," said FIFA vice president Jim Boyce of Northern Ireland.

The ban includes Liverpool's first three Champions League games in the five-time European champion's return after a five-year absence. Suarez will also miss the first nine Premier League matches.

Suarez would still be allowed transfer to a different club during the ban, Fischer said. He has been linked to a move to Barcelona.

Sports manufacturer adidas, which sponsors both Suarez and the World Cup, said it agreed with the ruling. The company said it will not use Suarez for "additional marketing" during the World Cup but would not immediately drop him as a client.

"We will again be reminding him of the high standards we expect from our players," adidas said in a statement. ( Associated Press )

READ MORE - FIFA bans Suarez for 4 months for biting opponent

FIFA starts disciplinary action against Luis Suarez after biting claims

FIFA starts disciplinary action against Luis Suarez after biting claims - Luis Suarez, a player of unquestionable talent but with an unfortunate tendency to bite, now faces disciplinary action from soccer's governing body after he appeared to sink his teeth into an opponent yet again. 

FIFA said Wednesday that it has begun proceedings after the Uruguay striker was accused of biting another player during his team's World Cup victory over Italy a day earlier. 

Television pictures showed Suarez dipping his head toward Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, sending both men tumbling to the ground. When the Italian defender eventually got up, he pulled down his shirt and furiously indicated he had been bitten on the shoulder. 

If the teeth don't fit, you must acquit! 

Suarez, 27, has already been banned twice in his career for his wayward teeth. But those offenses happened in club-level games. 

Tuesday's incident was during soccer's biggest spectacle, in front of an audience of millions. And whether he's ultimately found guilty, Suarez's teeth baring now takes its place in the annals of World Cup controversy, along with Diego Maradona's "hand of God" goal and Zinedine Zidane's headbutt. 

Suarez and the Uruguayan Football Association have until 5 p.m. Brasilia time (4 p.m. ET) Wednesday "to provide their position and any documentary evidence they deem relevant" to the disciplinary proceedings, FIFA said. 

Suarez, a mercurial player who has earned both accolades and ignominy in his career, could face a maximum ban of 24 matches or two years. It will probably be much less. 

Former Italian international Mauro Tassotti was given an eight-match ban in 1994, the longest suspension in World Cup history, after breaking the nose of Spain's Luis Enrique. 

And Zidane, the former France midfielder, was handed a three-match ban for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the 2006 final. 

After the game, which Uruguay won 1-0, Suarez said he simply collided with Chiellini's shoulder. 

"The only thing I know," he said, "is that those are occurrences that happen on the pitch." 

'Suarez is a sneak' 

To a large extent, Uruguay's fate at the World Cup rests on Suarez. 

Forced to undergo surgery, he missed Uruguay's opening game against Costa Rica. His team lost. 

He made a dramatic return in time to face England just five weeks after his operation -- and scored both goals in the South American side's 2-1 win. 

Then came Tuesday's faceoff with Italy. The two teams were scoreless in the first half. Then came the controversial tussle. Moments later, Uruguay's Diego Godin scored the match's only goal. 

Despite vigorous objection from the Italian players, the Mexican referee refused to look at Chiellini's shoulder, or penalize Suarez. (In yet another bizarre coincidence, the Mexican referee Marco Antonio Rodriguez is known as "Dracula" for his apparent resemblance to the actor who plays the character in a TV show there). 

"Suarez is a sneak and he gets away with it because FIFA want their stars to play in the World Cup," Chiellini told Sky Sports Italia afterward. 

"I'd love to see if they have the courage to use video evidence against him. The referee saw the bite mark too, but he did nothing about it." 

Facing criticism again 

FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce, who also presides as head of the organization's referees committee, said he had serious concerns over Suarez's actions. 

"I have watched the incident several times on television," he said. "There is no doubt Luis Suarez is a fantastic footballer but, once again, his actions have left him open to severe criticism." 

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said he didn't spot the incident but would like to see images of it. 

"And if it happened, the referee probably didn't see it," he said. "So no, I don't have any more comments to make. We had more important things than this in a football match." 

But he suggested that Suarez was being singled out by the media. 

"There seems there is animosity against this football player," Tabarez said. "He just came out of a difficult moment and he has been penalized. There are people hiding behind the tree waiting for something to happen." 

Defended by captain 

The Uruguay team captain, Diego Lugano, blamed Chiellini for exaggerating the episode. 

When asked by reporters about the incident, he said, "You saw this, really? 

"You need to show me because I didn't see anything. 

"Did you see it today or did you see what happened in other years. You couldn't have seen it today because nothing happened. 

"The worst of everything is the attitude of Chiellini. He's a great player, with an enormous status. It doesn't correspond with Italian football. As sportsmen leaving the field, crying and appealing against a rival. As a man he disappointed me totally." 

Previous bites 

The Uruguayan, who plays his club football with Liverpool, was banned for 10 games in April 2013 after being found guilty of biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic. 

He was also guilty of biting during his time in the Netherlands with Ajax where he was banned for seven games after leaving a scar on the collarbone of Otman Bakkal. 

Suarez's rap sheet is lengthy. 

At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, he deliberately handled the ball on the goal-line to deny Ghana a place in the semifinals of the World Cup. 

He was sent off for his troubles but Ghana missed the penalty and Uruguay went on to finish third in the tournament. 

The following year after his move to Liverpool, Suarez was found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra. 

He was fined $63,000 and banned for eight matches. 

Dazzling season 

Last week, after scoring both goals in the game against England, Suarez hit out at the British media after claiming he had been unfairly treated over his transgressions. 

"Before the game people in England laughed about my attitude over the last few years," he said. 

"I want to see what they think now. I have dreamed of this moment." 

Suarez enjoyed a sensational season with Liverpool -- scoring 31 league goals to help his club qualify for the Champions League. 

He was voted Player of the Year by his fellow colleagues and also named as the journalists' Player of the Year too -- awards that reflected a feeling that Suarez had put his troubled past behind him. 

But all those controversies came rushing back to haunt him Tuesday. 

His tangle with Chiellini appears to have put his participation in the rest of the World Cup in serious doubt. 

In this case, he may have bitten off more than he can chew. ( cnn.com )

READ MORE - FIFA starts disciplinary action against Luis Suarez after biting claims

Brilliant Benzema dispatches Suarez's side

Brilliant Benzema dispatches Suarez's side - Karim Benzema was in inspired form as France opened their World Cup campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over Honduras.

Luis Suarez's Central Americans were not afraid to put in several robust challenges - an approach that resulted in Wilson Palacios' dismissal shortly before the break.

There was also a first moment of doubt in relation to goal-line technology at the World Cup, with initial confusion over the verdict for France's second goal.

However, Didier Deschamps' men were rightful victors as they moved top of Group E despite having struggled to break down Honduras' backline for the majority of the opening 45 minutes.

Benzema gave France the lead from the penalty spot just prior to the break, with Palacios shown a second yellow card after barging into Paul Pogba, and the 10 men of Honduras fell further behind early in the second half.

After a short delay, goal-line technology confirmed goalkeeper Noel Valladares had fumbled Benzema's effort over the line, and the Real Madrid man added a third 18 minutes from time as the French got their first points on the board in Brazil.

Both sides struggled to build momentum early on, although Mathieu Valbuena and Antoine Griezmann were among the livelier French players in the opening 10 minutes.

Valbuena in particular was a danger and his delivery led to France's first chance 14 minutes in - Blaise Matuidi seeing his effort from inside the area tipped onto and over the crossbar by Valladares.

From there, France dominated play and Griezmann was next to go close with a header that hit the woodwork.

Tempers flared shortly before the half-hour mark when Pogba and Palacios were involved in a heated exchange after some tenacious tackling from the Stoke City man.

Pogba kicked out at the Honduran from on the ground and was perhaps lucky to escape with only a yellow card, while Palacios was also booked for the initial challenge. For Honduras, that break in play provided welcome respite from constant French pressure and the incident seemed to slow the Europeans' momentum somewhat.

Indeed, they needed a penalty to give them a lead at the break - Benzema tucking the spot-kick away after Palacios had mindlessly bundled over Pogba in the area.

The midfielder's subsequent dismissal gave the Central Americans a mountain to climb in the second half, with things getting worse for Honduras two minutes after the restart with the arrival of France's second.

Benzema's initial effort struck the far post and, with the assistance of goal-line technology and some poor handling from Valladares, it found its way over the line.

While there was a delay on the confirmation of the goal and subsequent disagreements between France coach Deschamps and his counterpart Suarez on the touchline, the ball was - eventually - clearly adjudged to be over the line.

There was no doubt whatsoever as to Benzema's second of the game, though - the impressive striker crashing an effort into the roof of the net from a tight angle with 18 minutes left.

That put further daylight between the two sides, although more robust tackling from Honduras late on meant that Deschamps will likely have been satisfied to simply come through a physical encounter unscathed and seemingly without injury. ( goal.com )

READ MORE - Brilliant Benzema dispatches Suarez's side

Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani headline Uruguay roster

Stu Forster

World Cup 2014 squads: Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani headline Uruguay roster - Óscar Tabárez has named his 30-man provision squad that includes strikers Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani.

Uruguay have begun preparations for next month's World Cup in Brazil with the announcement of their 30-man provisional roster on Tuesday. Strikers Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani are the big names on a roster that features no real surprises.

Suárez is coming off his best season as a professional, leading Liverpool to a second place finish in the Premier League. The striker won two major individual awards and led the EPL with 31 goals. Cavani scored 25 goals for Paris Saint-Germain this season across all competitions.

Several players, including Gastón Ramírez, José María Giménez, Cristian Rodríguez, Alejandro Silva, Abel Hernández and Christian Stuani, could all get a chance to make their World Cup debut.

Uruguay will play friendlies against Northern Ireland and Slovenia before beginning World Cup group stage play on June 14 against Costa Rica.

Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martín Silva (Vasco da Gama), Rodrigo Muñoz (Libertad).

Defenders: Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica), Diego Lugano (West Bromwich Albion), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), José María Giménez (Atletico Madrid), Sebastián Coates (Liverpool), Martín Cáceres (Juventus), Jorge Fucile (Porto).

Midfielders: Alejandro Silva (Lanus), Álvaro González (Lazio), Álvaro Pereira (Sao Paulo), Walter Gargano (Parma), Egidio Arévalo Ríos (Morelia), Diego Pérez (Bologna), Sebastian Eguren (Palmeiras), Cristian Rodríguez (Atletico Madrid), Gastón Ramírez (Southampton), Nicolas Lodeiro (Botafogo).

Forwards: Luis Suárez (Liverpool), Edinson Cavani (Paris St-Germain), Abel Hernández (Palermo), Diego Forlan (Cerezo Osaka), Christian Stuani (Espanyol).

Standby players: Andrés Scotti (Nacional), Alvaro Fernandez (Gimnasia La Plata), Gonzalo Castro (Real Sociedad). // ( sbnation.com )

READ MORE - Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani headline Uruguay roster

Liverpool fans will defend Luis Suarez to the hilt

Proof that Luis Suarez is a nice guy after all. Not only is he a great player, but he’s a lovely chap, even if his on-pitch antics leave something to be desired.

Many remain to be convinced – hugging team-mates and being nice to one’s family are hardly indicators of an unusually kind soul – but this photo may change your mind.

(Photo from imgur)

The photo, which is actually from last season but has just gone viral, was taken after the Uruguayan striker was out in his local park when he spotted seven-year-old Ethan Mullin playing with a Liverpool-branded football.

Suarez decided to join in, before posing for a photo with Ethan, who has Down’s Syndrome, and his father David.

Hilariously, it took a while for the penny to drop, with the youngster’s cousin Ben Mullin - who posted the image - saying on Liverpool's Reddit page that his uncle initially “thought it was just some annoying man”.

We spoke to Ben, who explained that his uncle isn't a big football fan and at first thought it was just a random passer by having a laugh:

“My uncle took quite a while looking at Suarez’s face as he’s not a massive follower of football, but – after a couple of minutes – it suddenly dawned on him.

“He asked if he was Luis Suarez and he sheepishly answered ‘yes’. Suarez was doing all of his famous dribbles and passing to Ethan.

“Ethan was clearly impressed but due to his age was not certain to who it was.

“But now he knows who he is and will treasure the image for the rest of his life.”

Suarez went on to let the child nutmeg him, although reports that he responded with a chomp on his shoulder remain unconfirmed.

But on a serious note, for all the heat Suarez catches for his on-the-pitch actions, it's nice to see him being a genuinely normal and likeable chap when it matters. ( Eurosport )

READ MORE - Liverpool fans will defend Luis Suarez to the hilt

I’m a demon on the pitch (but an angel at home) : Suarez

Suarez : I’m a demon on the pitch (but an angel at home) - Eurosport caught up with Liverpool star Luis Suarez, who admits he will do anything he can to win matches, but is the complete opposite at home.

In an exclusive interview for the Eurogoals show, Suarez was in jovial mood, talking about his amazing season, the World Cup in Brazil, and some of the controversies that have followed him throughout his career.

First up, he talked about his incredible campaign, and how he wants that form to continue through the summer:

“I think I’m having one of my best football seasons. Obviously I’m working very hard with Liverpool and I hope I take my success to the World Cup.

“For Uruguay it is the main focus and I can’t wait to play in Brazil.”

Then it was back to Liverpool, who are looking increasingly like they will be playing Champions League football next season – and are in with a shout at the Premier League title.

“This is a great club but we haven’t played Champions League for a while – to go there would be a fantastic dream.

“We’ve got an opportunity this year – the others say it’s an unforgettable experience to play Champions League at Anfield.”

Inevitably, the subject turned to the naughty things he has done throughout his career. But Suarez insisted that, while he has a tendency to misbehave on the pitch, it is merely his competitive spirit – and that he’s actually a nice man in real life.

He used his infamous handball against Ghana in the 2010 World Cup – which ultimately denied the Africans a place in the semi-final – as an example of how he can be a “demon on the pitch”.

“For me I was helping my team – I stopped the ball with my hand, I didn’t hurt anyone, and the referee did his job by sending me off and awarding a penalty.

“It could be a problem for me to be famous for controversies – but off the pitch I am closer to an angel and not a demon!

“On the pitch I do anything for the jersey, but I’m completely different at home with my family.” ( uk.eurosport.yahoo.com )

READ MORE - I’m a demon on the pitch (but an angel at home) : Suarez