UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Gus Poyet says Uruguay striker Luis Suarez injury could be "really bad" for Uruguay

Record ID: 695128

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Gus Poyet says Uruguay striker Luis Suarez injury could be "really bad" for Uruguay
  • Date: 22nd May 2014
  • Summary: FILE (MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF URUGUAY PLAYER LUIS SUAREZ AT NATIONAL SQUAD TRAINING SESSION
  • Embargoed: 6th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVADX7JWUU4D8MH7314ODHEA6MI9
  • Story Text: Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was recovering from knee surgery on Thursday (May 22), three three weeks before the start of the world cup and compatriot Gus Poyet said it will be "really bad" for the country's chances if he does not recover in time.
    Suarez helped Uruguay to fourth place at the last World Cup in South Africa four years ago and was expected to play a key role in the country's campaign at the June 12-July 13 tournament in Brazil, but the 27-year-old Liverpool striker had an MRI scan on Wednesday that showed surgery was necessary.
    Speaking in London on Thursday, Sunderland head coach and former Uruguay international Poyet said: "Well, I think that not having Luis Suarez at this moment in time, any team, national team is a team as well, it will be massive not to have him because the quality, the difference that he makes. Like I always say, when you have a player like him, if you are organised and work together, he will make the difference."
    The possible recovery time from surgery leaves Suarez little room for manoeuvre before Uruguay play their first world cup match, against Costa Rica in Fortaleza on June 14.
    "Listen, he is the player in form; he is one of the best players in the world right now. I am sure that everybody would like to have him. It could be really bad if, for whatever reason, he is not fit for the world cup. So I think it will be very, very important to make sure that he is there," said Poyet.
    Uruguay also face England and Italy in opening round Group D.
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