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| 사진=트리뷰나 |
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Luis Suarez has been crowned the savior who shed tears in what could be the end of his national career.
Uruguay finished third in the Copa America 2024 third place match against Canada at Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina on the 14th (Korea time) by winning 4-3 in the penalty shootout after 90 minutes of bloodshed.
Uruguay got off to a good start. Federico Valverde's kick was sharply connected at the first corner in the eighth minute of the first half. The second ball landed in front of Rodrigo Bentancourt's feet. Bentancourt scored with a fantastic turning shot.
However, the game was back to square one when Uruguay lost a point to Ismael Kone from a corner kick in the 21st minute of the first half. It was in the 35th minute of the second half that the tight balance of the game collapsed. This time again, Kone stepped up. After breaking down Uruguay's midfield, he fired a powerful shot. It was blocked by the goalkeeper's hand, but Canada succeeded in turning the tables as the second ball headed in front of Jonathan David.
Uruguay's defeat began to grow darker. It was veteran Suarez who began to burn up his passion in the second half of extra time. Suarez had a decisive chance with a fantastic breakthrough reminiscent of his heyday in the second half of extra time, but failed to score. However, exactly 30 seconds later, Jose Jimenez pushed the pass to Suarez inside the penalty box, and Suarez scored with a clean finish.
Suarez's dramatic equalizer led to a penalty shootout. In the shootout, Uruguay came in third, defeating Canada.
It's known after the game, but Suarez was in tears in despair after missing his first chance in second-half stoppage time. For Suarez, who was born in 1987, this could be his last game for the national team.
Suarez is in such a bad shape that he considered retiring as a soccer player even before moving to Inter Miami. He participated in this Copa by burning his last fighting spirit. It was also the first time in almost a year that Suarez was called by the national team. His teammates also felt that Suarez's retirement from the national team was approaching to the extent that his teammate Darwin Núñez conceded his jersey number 9, which he wore.
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| 사진=트리뷰나 |
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Suarez appears to have shed tears as the end of his international career could end in defeat. However, in that despair, Suarez did not miss the decisive opportunity that came to him twice in a row. Suarez laughed with his teammates again, and did his part with a clean kick in the shootout.
As Suarez's proportion in Uruguay gradually decreases, it is unlikely to see Suarez at the 2026 North-China World Cup. It is unclear whether Suarez will be active until then.
rlaeotlr2024@sportschosun.com
