LUIS SUAREZ : A HUNGRY MAN ?

Has Suarez done it again ? That is the question now haunting football.

Way back in the mists of time, actually just over a year ago, Luis Suarez was seen to bite an opponent. After an inquiry, the FA decided on a 10 match ban for the Uruguayan, their decision no doubt influenced to some degree by the fact that he had been banned for 7 matches by the Dutch football authorities after a similar incident in November 2010. Now, he's being accused of biting an Italian player, Giorgio Chiellini, in yesterday's final game in World Cup group D and FIFA are investigating.

What the outcome of FIFA's enquiries will be is anyone's guess; they may try to brush it all under the carpet to avoid tarnishing the tournament too badly, or they may land on Suarez like the proverbial 'tonne of bricks' in order to demonstrate how tough they are. Whatever their approach, if Suarez is found to have bitten a third player surely his career should be brought to an end. One such incident may be considered the result of hot-headedness, a second put down to treatable mental instability, but 3 surely indicates a man completely devoid of normal human decency and morality.

If, and I emphasise *IF*, he's found guilty of a third offence, his continued presence in the Premier League with Liverpool, notwithstanding his brilliance as a player, must surely be an impossibility, while which other great clubs would wish to spend the suggested £70m on buying a player with such cannibalistic tendencies ?

ENGLAND CRASH AND BURN.

True to form, England are on the point of elimination for the football World Cup, while having won the war of media drivel quite comfortably.

Indeed, if there was a medal for talking a good game, England would be champions year after year. The pundits on television, radio and in print never stop telling us how good our players are, though, for once, they did not raise expectations as high as they might have done. Just as well.

Yesterday's game against Uruguay, a nation with little more than one fifteenth of our population, produced excessive chat about when Rooney would score and many shouts of "Better" from one of the commentators, but little real commentary. In the end, England's shortcomings were exposed - failure to take advantage of good positions, an ability to ignore dangerous ones - and the one world class player on the pitch, Luis Suarez, made them pay. In truth, I don't think England played badly, but they simply don't have players of the necessary calibre. Sterling, Sturridge, Cahill, Rooney and Henderson all had their moments but Hart looked out of his depth, the defence was shaky and the mid-field did too little.

All hope now rests on Italy beating both Costa Rica and Uruguay while, even then, England would have to beat Cost Rica by enough of a margin to go through on goal difference. It could happen, but it's not a gamble to bet one's house on. Of course, the pundits have been having a field day, discussing what went wrong, who else should have been in the team, what could have been done differently and whether or not the manager has a future. Given the limited choice of limited players, it's hard to see any changes that would have made much difference, and what rationale there could be for sacking the manager escapes me. As with any side, the manager needs time to assess his players and build a team - Hodgson has had far too little time to do either and must surely be allowed to carry on to the next World Cup in 2018 although, at 64,  he was far too old when appointed in May 2012.

If England are ever to climb the heights again, they need certain things. Firstly, a younger manager who can be given at least 10 years to build his team. Secondly, many more young English players appearing regularly in the Premier League and playing at the top level; the prominence of foreign imports has to be reduced. Thirdly, less hype and celebrity status for these overpaid prima donnas. What chance is there of all, or any, of this occurring ?

ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP GLOOM.

Almost before it's even begun, it looks as though England's world cup bid may be over. Last night's defeat against Italy makes it very difficult for 'our boys' to make it through to the last 16 and an exit at the Group stage looks a distinct possibility, especially after Uruguay's failure against the supposed minnows from Costa Rica.

England tried hard but were simply not good enough. The much lauded talents of Gerrard and Rooney failed to materialise and while they huffed and puffed they found it impossible to blow down the Italian house. In fact, after the first few minutes, England created few truly threatening positions; their goal was a great piece of flowing football but other opportunities were wasted by poor play in and around their opponents penalty area. Raheem Sterling was their outstanding player by a country mile, while no one else achieved much of note. The truth is that we have few, if any, world class players and the sooner we accept this, the better.

Oh for the finishing of Arjen Robben or Robin van Persie. These two showed how it should be done with magnificent performances in the match between Holland and Spain. Current champions, Spain, were simply blown away by some superb play from the Dutch and, in particular, by some brilliant finishing from Robben and van Persie. These two are WORLD CLASS, Gerrard, Rooney and the rest are not and never will be; good, yes, but World Class, not a chance.

For England, all now rests on Thursday's game against Uruguay, a side who will be equally desperate for a result. It's likely to be a cracker and defeat will almost certainly mean an early flight home, but for which side ?