Luis Suarez doesn’t need to apologize for his handball against Ghana 12 years ago as he looks to take Uruguay to the round of 16 of the World Cup.
After scoring a point from their first two matches in Qatar, Uruguay must beat Ghana on Friday to qualify from Group H.
However, the game at Al Janoub Stadium is something of a grudge match – at least from the point of view of Ghanaian fans.
While Black Stars coach Otto Addo insisted that Ghana would not retaliate, Suarez was a hugely unpopular character in the African nation as he stripped Dominik Adiya of a goal in extra time of the World Cup quarter-finals on the line. tie in 2010.
Suárez was sent off, but Asamoah Gyan hit the crossbar on a penalty kick and Uruguay advanced to the semi-finals, winning the shoot-out.
However, the former Liverpool and Barcelona star never considered apologizing.
“I don’t apologize for that,” he said at a press conference.
“I played with my hand, but the player from Ghana missed the penalty, not me.
“Perhaps I could apologize if I injured the player, but in this situation I was sent off, the referee said the penalty was not my fault, because I did not convert the penalty.
“I don’t have to score a penalty.”
Luis atendió a la prensa un día del partido con Ghana.
@Soccer World Cup #ElEquipoQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/eorUlDdJyO
— Uruguay Choice (@Uruguay) December 1, 2022
When Suarez was told that Ghana, who could pass by a point, could be even more motivated if he played in what could very well be his last World Cup game, the 35-year-old suggested that obsession with revenge was unhealthy.
“I did not think about that. I don’t know what people say and whether they want revenge,” he replied.
“Players who can play tomorrow may have been eight years old then, will they be motivated? Some may call me the Devil.
“We beat Portugal in 2018. Have you heard the Portuguese say that they need a rematch because we lost?”
Suárez also mentioned the incident involving Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup when the Uruguayan forward bit the Italian defender on the shoulder.
“What I did with Chiellini, I made a mistake, but then we played together in the Champions League and shook hands,” he added.
“You can’t focus on the past and revenge, it can backfire.”
Uruguay head coach Diego Alonso said: “It’s a defining match for us and it’s important, I don’t know if Ghana wants a rematch, we respect them and will try to improve to qualify.”
Meanwhile, his colleague Addo confirmed that Ghana’s thoughts are not focused on revenge.
“That’s what I want from every player to do their best to get to the semi-finals of the World Cup. Maybe donate yourself. This is my point of view,” he said.
“What happened in 2010 was very sad, but we cannot change that. In general, it is about the future,” said Addo.
“If the same incident happened the other way around, people would talk about it, so it’s not a big topic for me. We approach the match like any other.”