World Cup 2014: Uruguay's Luis Suárez is still a work in progress, insists England manager Roy Hodgson
Hodgson claims Liverpool striker still has much to do to be considered a world great ahead of England's crucial tie against Uruguay
Impatient: Luis Suárez, watching his Uruguay team-mates lose to Costra Rica, will be determined to face England after Roy Hodgson claimed heis not yet a world great Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Henry Winter, and Jeremy Wilson
10:30PM BST 15 Jun 2014
Comment
Roy Hodgson believes that Luis Suárez can be considered one of the best players in the world only when he delivers in a World Cup like Diego Maradona or Pele.
Hodgson’s view is undoubtedly correct but it was unwise to voice such sentiments in the run-in to the Group D game against Uruguay on Thursday, with Suárez hoping to return from his knee injury.
Suárez was on the bench for Uruguay’s surprising defeat against Costa Rica on Saturday and he is itching to play against England.
Hodgson’s comments could stir the Liverpool striker further.
He played in the previous World Cup where he was associated mainly with a handball against Ghana. For all his excellence at Liverpool this season, Suárez has yet to deliver at a World Cup.
“I think he will only be at that stellar level when he shows it on this particular stage,” Hodgson said.
“If you are saying do I think he has got the potential, is he a wonderful footballer, yes he sure is.
"But if you are really going to put him up there with Maradona, Pele, Beckenbauer and Cruyff he has to shine in a World Cup.
"You might even argue [Lionel] Messi needs to have that sort of tournament to get up there with the legends of football.
“Pirlo was challenging that category. He has done it time and time again, shown what a wonderful footballer he is, because this is the stage you have got to do it on really.
"Being a great player in your league will get you lots of plaudits but for the world to recognise you are one of the all-time greats you have got to do it as the World Cup.”
Steven Gerrard, the England captain, believes that Suárez will feature in Sao Paulo.
“I’m not sure where Suárez is up to injury-wise but I expect him to play some part because he’s been so quiet,” Gerrard said of his Liverpool club-mate.
“I expect him to be involved in some capacity so they have really good firepower up front but we’ve seen against Costa Rica they are certainly beatable.
"They concede goals and if we attack like we did against Italy we will cause Uruguay big, big problems.”
England’s defenders have warned that it would be a mistake to focus all their preparations this week on containing Suárez given that Uruguay’s attack also includes Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan.
“I do not think Uruguay are a one-man team – it would be disrespectful to say they are putting all their hopes on Suárez,” Phil Jagielka said. “The key is trying to keep him as far away from the goal as possible.”
Gary Cahill has gained confidence from his excellent record last season for Chelsea against Suárez and does expect the Liverpool striker to start on Thursday in Sao Paulo.
“I think we have to prepare to face him, but there are 23 players in their squad and they have other options,” Cahill said.
“Whoever plays it’s going to be tough. When I do well against players like that it gives me confidence, but every game is different.”
Jordan Henderson is also adamant that England should not make special plans to deal with his Liverpool team-mate.
“There’s not just Luis – they have a lot of other good players,” he said.
“In terms of Luis, he’s a fantastic player and you’ve just got to deal with him like any other player on the pitch because they’ve also got people like Cavani and Forlan.
"We’ll look to prepare well and concentrate on Uruguay as a team.”
Hodgson claims Liverpool striker still has much to do to be considered a world great ahead of England's crucial tie against Uruguay
Impatient: Luis Suárez, watching his Uruguay team-mates lose to Costra Rica, will be determined to face England after Roy Hodgson claimed heis not yet a world great Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Henry Winter, and Jeremy Wilson
10:30PM BST 15 Jun 2014
Roy Hodgson believes that Luis Suárez can be considered one of the best players in the world only when he delivers in a World Cup like Diego Maradona or Pele.
Hodgson’s view is undoubtedly correct but it was unwise to voice such sentiments in the run-in to the Group D game against Uruguay on Thursday, with Suárez hoping to return from his knee injury.
Suárez was on the bench for Uruguay’s surprising defeat against Costa Rica on Saturday and he is itching to play against England.
Hodgson’s comments could stir the Liverpool striker further.
He played in the previous World Cup where he was associated mainly with a handball against Ghana. For all his excellence at Liverpool this season, Suárez has yet to deliver at a World Cup.
“I think he will only be at that stellar level when he shows it on this particular stage,” Hodgson said.
“If you are saying do I think he has got the potential, is he a wonderful footballer, yes he sure is.
"But if you are really going to put him up there with Maradona, Pele, Beckenbauer and Cruyff he has to shine in a World Cup.
"You might even argue [Lionel] Messi needs to have that sort of tournament to get up there with the legends of football.
“Pirlo was challenging that category. He has done it time and time again, shown what a wonderful footballer he is, because this is the stage you have got to do it on really.
"Being a great player in your league will get you lots of plaudits but for the world to recognise you are one of the all-time greats you have got to do it as the World Cup.”
Steven Gerrard, the England captain, believes that Suárez will feature in Sao Paulo.
“I’m not sure where Suárez is up to injury-wise but I expect him to play some part because he’s been so quiet,” Gerrard said of his Liverpool club-mate.
“I expect him to be involved in some capacity so they have really good firepower up front but we’ve seen against Costa Rica they are certainly beatable.
"They concede goals and if we attack like we did against Italy we will cause Uruguay big, big problems.”
England’s defenders have warned that it would be a mistake to focus all their preparations this week on containing Suárez given that Uruguay’s attack also includes Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan.
“I do not think Uruguay are a one-man team – it would be disrespectful to say they are putting all their hopes on Suárez,” Phil Jagielka said. “The key is trying to keep him as far away from the goal as possible.”
Gary Cahill has gained confidence from his excellent record last season for Chelsea against Suárez and does expect the Liverpool striker to start on Thursday in Sao Paulo.
“I think we have to prepare to face him, but there are 23 players in their squad and they have other options,” Cahill said.
“Whoever plays it’s going to be tough. When I do well against players like that it gives me confidence, but every game is different.”
Jordan Henderson is also adamant that England should not make special plans to deal with his Liverpool team-mate.
“There’s not just Luis – they have a lot of other good players,” he said.
“In terms of Luis, he’s a fantastic player and you’ve just got to deal with him like any other player on the pitch because they’ve also got people like Cavani and Forlan.
"We’ll look to prepare well and concentrate on Uruguay as a team.”
