Uruguay survived and Italy died in the group of death. South American Giant Uruguay managed to knock out a 10 men Italy joining the Central American team Costa Rica from the group of death for the knock out round. The all-important goal was scored by Uruguayan Captain and Center back Diego Godin deflecting and redirecting a corner at 81st minute of a keenly contested encounter. Italy joins England to leave Brazil as another first round causality.
The match witnessed some controversies and lots of physical football Claudio Marchisio of Italy was sent off with a direct red card in the second half for a challenge on Egido Arevalo Rios. Many thought it was too harsh which the referee could easily deal with a yellow. In such a difficult match playing with 10 men definitely change the balance and give the other team huge advantage. Italy had to keep fighting for more than 3o minutes with one man disadvantage.
There was hardly anything to choose among the evenly matched teams and the exchanges were shared equally. Rather Italy enjoyed 55% of the ball possession. It took Uruguayans about 20 minutes of the red card incident to break the deadlock. Captain Diego Godin advanced from center defence to redirect a corner kick beyond Gianluigi Buffon, the Italy goalkeeper.
Just before the goal the match witnessed an ugly skirmish involving Uruguayan star striker and Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini. The Italian defender was marking Saurez in the match.
On-field jockeying for position escalated and Chiellini leaned into Suarez whose head went down to meet Chiellini's shoulder. Chiellini jumped back and fell down, pointing to his shoulder and indicating that he had been bit.Suarez, who has twice been penalized in his career for biting opponents, pleaded innocence. Camera angles didn't provide conclusive evidence.
But expect the controversy to grow. Postings to Twitter and video replay show an excited and exhibitionist Chiellini exposing his bare shoulder from under his blue jersey. Faint marks on his flesh are visible, but it is hardly clear that they are bite marks, not the usual nicks and knocks sustained throughout the course of a hard-fought World Cup match.
Setting aside the red card controversy and ugly incident of alleged biting on the shoulder of Italian defender by Uruguayan striker the match had very little to report about. The battle for survival of two former world champions failed to live up to the billing.
Costa Rica managing a draw in the other match with England in the other match maintained its position on the top of the table with seven points while Uruguay getting four finished behind them. Before the tournament started no one in the wildest of dream could even predict such an outcome in the group with two former world Champions and well organized teams pack their baggage and go home empty handed from the first round. Costa Rica surprised but not by the grace.
They achieved the position through playing quality soccer consistently .Strange thing happens in World Cup and that is why people like this event for its uncertain nature. No team is sure or guaranteed here. But the all-important last match of the group failed to impress the lovers of the game .The quality of soccer was sadly missing. In brief the red card was harsh which spoiled the contest and the skirmish incident was deplorable .Football was pretty ordinary.
BDST: 0928 HRS, JUNE 25, 2014
