Luis Suarez has done it again. For the third time in his illustrious career of misbehavior, Luis Suarez has bitten a fellow soccer player. This time the victim was Giorgio Chiellini. In the 79th minute, Suarez and Chiellini were both eyeing an aerial ball in the Italian penalty area. After the ball was harmlessly struck away from them, the Uruguayan appeared to throw his face into the back of the Italian defender's shoulder. Chiellini immediately hit the floor in pain, grabbing at his left shoulder. Meanwhile, Suarez went down with his hands to his mouth as if he had just taken a shot to the teeth. Closer examination of the incident shows that Suarez intentionally buried his face in his opponent's shoulder, opened wide, and chomped down on some fresh Italian flesh.
Anyone with knowledge of Suarez's past could hardly argue with what they saw. In 2010, while Suarez played for the Dutch club Ajax, he attempted to eat the neck of PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal. He was given a seven match ban for that little run in. Just about a year ago, he clamped his teeth onto Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic. For that number he sat for ten games.
How long does he get for this one? The answer depends on who you ask. The longest World Cup suspension FIFA has ever handed out was eight games to Italy's Mauro Tassotti for breaking the nose of Spain's Luis Enrique. You can certainly use that as a standard, but I don't think it is nearly enough for a repeat offender like Suarez. The maximum allowed by FIFA is two years. Is that too much? I think it is. A more reasonable punishment would be a one year ban, but will FIFA have the guts to go through with such a punishment? I certainly hope so. At the absolute least, we won't see Luis Suarez for the rest of this World Cup, and likely for many more games of international competition.
Another important question to consider is Suarez's value at the club level. After one biting incident, Liverpool paid £22.8 million for him. After a second incident, he still won both the PFA Player of the Year Award and Football Association Writers' Player of the Year this season. Will any club, including his current home of Liverpool, want to deal with the potential headache of having such a turbulent personality on their roster? I suppose we will find out, but I am sure that some team will want him around for his extraordinary ability to score goals.
As for the match that happened around Suarez's snack, Uruguay proved they were hungrier than Italy. They showed their teeth on an 81st minute header by Diego Godin. Godin was on the receiving end of a fantastic corner taken by Gaston Ramirez. The ball was swallowed by the net and Uruguay had the goal they needed to advance to the round of 16 with a 1-0 win.
In the other Group D match, Costa Rica and England played to a fairly lifeless 0-0 draw.
Over in Group C, Columbia took care of Japan by a 4-1 score to finish a perfect group stage. The real excitement came from the Ivory Coast-Greece clash. An Ivory Coast win or draw would see the African side through to the knockout rounds for the first time ever. But the Mediterranean underdogs had other plans.
The Greeks got things started in the first half when Andreas Samaris intercepted a pass at midfield, made a quick outlet to Georgios Samaras, who quickly gave the ball back. Samaris had no trouble at all beating the Ivorian keeper to put Greece up 1-0. The Elephants of Ivory Coast would get a goal back after some fantastic team play from Gervinho and Wilfried Bony. The two had a wonderful give and go that saw Bony put the ball into the back of the net to tie the score. The celebration for Ivory Coast was seemingly underway when, in the final minute of stoppage time, defender Giovanni Sio tripped Georgios Samaras in the box. Samaras converted the ensuing penalty kick to send Greece through with a 2-1 victory.
As for the round of 16 matchups created here, on Saturday at 4pm, Colombia will face Uruguay in a clash of South American giants. That should be a wonderful, can't miss match. On Sunday at 4pm, Costa Rica will face Greece.
Two more days of group play remain before then. Today we see Groups E and F decided. Group F kicks off at noon with Argentina facing Nigeria and Bosnia-Herzegovina playing Iran. Argentina has already advanced and Nigeria need a point, or Iran to drop points, to secure their place in the round of 16. I think Argentina gets things done by a 2-1 score. Bosnia-Herzegovina are already eliminated and can play spoiler for Iran. An Iranian victory by a couple goals will see them leapfrog Nigeria into second place. I doubt it will happen though. I see a 1-1 draw taking place.
At 4pm, we get the conclusion of Group E. All four teams are still alive in this one. France holds the top spot at the moment, all they need is a point against Ecuador to secure the top spot. A win for Ecuador would see them in to second place. I think France continues their hot streak and wins 3-1. In the other match, Switzerland look to redeem themselves after their embarrassment against France. A Swiss win coupled with an Ecuador draw or loss puts them in the round of 16. Honduras needs a comfortable win and a French hammering of Ecuador to advance. I think Switzerland comes out ahead 2-0.
One more day until the USA-Germany match that we have all been waiting for. Enjoy these ones today, though.
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