Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez paid tribute to Luis Suarez as the team geared up for Wednesday’s World Cup match against Saudi Arabia — the 100th international appearance for the Barcelona striker.
“It is a big number, but not just a number. It means so much more to a player,” Tabarez said Tuesday. “Since he came up from the youth squad, Suarez has always had a pivotal role.”
“I think there is agreement that (Suarez) did not have his best game against Egypt, but players are not programmable robots. They need support,” Tabarez said. “His potential remains intact.”
Suarez has scored 51 goals for Uruguay and is playing in his third World Cup. His participation in 2014 was cut short after he infamously bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini. In 2010, he was again at the center of controversy when he was sent off for using his hand to stop a goal from Ghana in the quarterfinals before Uruguay advanced in a penalty shootout.