Luis Suarez made a frustrating farewell to the national football team on Friday (September 6, 2024) as Uruguay could only manage a 0-0 draw with Paraguay in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Suarez, 37, announced his retirement from the national team on Monday (September 2, 2024). He had previously enjoyed a brilliant 17-year career for Uruguay, becoming the country’s top scorer with 69 goals in 143 appearances.
But the former Barcelona and Liverpool star, who now plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, was unable to add a 70th goal to his international tally in Friday’s farewell match at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.
Despite having 65% possession, Uruguay were unable to break through the stubborn Paraguayan defence, and the team was riddled with around 24 fouls in an inconsistent game.
Suarez, whose career at international and club level has been marred by controversy including his ban for biting Italian Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup, was one of four Uruguayan players shown a yellow card in a heated encounter.
This result puts Uruguay in second place in the ten-team South American qualifying tournament in the round-robin tournament with 14 points from seven games, four points behind leaders Argentina.
Colombia can overtake Uruguay with a win over Peru in Lima on Friday.
The best six teams in the South American rankings automatically qualify for the 2026 finals in North America. The seventh-placed team goes into the playoffs.
Published – September 07, 2024 07:22 am IST