Goals: Uruguay—Godin 81'
Recap: Uruguay's 1-0 victory over Italy was marred in controversy.
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A studs-up challenge from Claudio Marchisio saw the Italian sent off in the 59th minute, leaving his team down a man for the remainder of the match. A bite from Luis Suarez in the 79th minute should've leveled the playing field. Suarez, however, would go unpunished. Diego Godin landed the final blow just two minutes later.
With the defeat, Italy has been eliminated from the 2014 World Cup.
Key Moment: Giorgio Chiellini immediately motioned to the referee that Suarez had just taken a chunk off his shoulder. No action was taken. Uruguay was given the opportunity to continue the match with a man advantage. There's no telling what the result would've been had Suarez been justifiably sent off.
Man of the Match: Uruguay's Diego Godin didn't just score the match-winner, he was an absolute masterclass in defense. The 28-year-old finished the match with 10 effective clearances.
Lesson Learned: Luis Suarez will literally do anything to win a match. This isn't the first time the star striker sunk his teeth into an opponent (Ajax 2010). This isn't the second time, either (Liverpool 2013). But that's what makes him the talented individual he is. Suarez is a driven individual, albeit a disturbed one, but it's that tenacious drive that allowed him to escape the slums of Uruguay and reach the summit of professional football. He's paid to score goals, not be liked. Unfortunately, he won't be able to for much longer. A suspension should be imminent.
Up Next: Italy returns home to prepare for the 2016 European Cup, while Uruguay travels to Rio de Janeiro to face Colombia on June 28.
Note: Credit all statistics to officially licensed data from Opta Sports (via WhoScored).
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