England manager Roy Hodgson believes Luis Suarez is yet to prove his greatness, despite being one of the best forwards in world football. England and Uruguay face in the World Cup group stage this Thursday, and both sides will be looking to get their first win of the tournament having lost to Costa Rica and Italy, respectively.
The 27 year old striker was unable to partake in his side’s shock 3-1 defeat to Costa Rica following surgery on his knee. With his undeniable appetite for the game fans will know that if he was unable to make a substitute appearance then he is truly in pain and unready for the competition so far.
Hodgson said about the Uruguayan
“You can be a great player in your league but to be recognised as one of the all-time greats you have got to do it at the World Cup.”
“He has got the potential. He is a wonderful footballer.”
Liverpool’s lack of Champions League football in recent years has led to many claims that Suarez is not “all that”, and while their are relative truths to this claim, his incredible season at Liverpool along with his team has seen him earn all the deserved praise he received. Hodgson also mentions players from another era, bar Andrea Pirlo, who have cemented their greatness in the game. In today’s modern game, the once plethora of excitement around International football is not what it once was, with domestic competitions (and the revenue gained from them) the focal point of many fans’ calenders.
One thing is for sure, should Suarez be fit for the game against England, he will look to prove his doubter, in this case Roy Hodgson, wrong as he has done throughout his career.
