In 2000, the pop stylist The Cuban Boys produced an ironic antidote to the usual crass triumphalism of songs about the England football team and their chances at major competitions. It was called 'Inertia Kicks' and contained the chorus: 'Losers/We're just a bunch of losers.' Not as memorable, perhaps, as 'Back Home', 'World In Motion' or 'Three Lions' (or 'England's Erie' or 'Vindaloo' for that matter) but it was a hell of a lot more realistic. This blogger mentions this because, as you might have noticed, Luis Suarez left England on the brink of yet another knackerless World Cup exit as his double strike gave Uruguay victory in Sao Paulo. The Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws striker was making his return after a month out following knee surgery - and it proved to be bad timing for England and their manager, Roy Hodgson, as Suarez's brilliance was the difference between the two sides in a fiercely-fought encounter. Suarez put Uruguay ahead with a first-half header then scored a superb winner six minutes from time after Wayne Rooney's first goal at a World Cup gave England brief hope of avoiding a second successive Group D loss. The defeat now means that the odds are stacked against England escaping from this tough group. They will be out unless Italy - who overcame England in Manaus - beat Costa Rica on Friday. They also need Italy to win their final game against Uruguay, which could then see England conceivably qualify on goal difference if - and it's a big if - they can beat Costa Rica themselves next Tuesday. But, for all the alleged potential of Hodgson's young side, a record of played two, lost two rarely adds up to anything other than elimination at the World Cup. No side has ever progressed to the next round after losing their first two matches. There will be the usual excuses, of course - not enough English players at the highest level of the game in this country, too long a season, it's all the manager's fault for picking the wrong players, et cetera - none of which can hide the fact that, once again, England's overpaid, underperforming, pampered millionaires have let themselves, and their country, down and failed to produce the goods when it actually mattered. They've got quite a habit of doing that.. What a thorough anti-climax it will be for Hodgson and his players if England are left playing for nothing in their final group game in Belo Horizonte. Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez claimed that Suarez would not be fully fit after missing their opening defeat against Costa Rica and he did not look it, but he still possessed too much guile and menace for an England team who never built on the promise they showed in losing to Italy. Rooney struck the bar and was England's main threat but Uruguay - or to be more precise, Suarez - produced the quality and clinical finishing that decides games such as this. 
As expected, Hodgson played Rooney in a more central role and moved Raheem Sterling wide - but England struggled to find the same energy levels that fuelled such a positive (albeit, ultimately defeated) performance against Italy. Daniel Sturridge and Sterling could not pose the same threat as they had in Manaus and it was Rooney who came closest with a free-kick just inches wide and then a header against the bar at the far post from Steven Gerrard's free-kick. England were nervous at the back and were fortunate to survive when Phil Jagielka's sliced clearance fell to Cristian Rodriguez, whose rising drive from the angle just cleared the bar with goalkeeper Joe Hart - probably thinking about his next shampoo commercial - beaten. Uruguay were the more ordered side and the goal duly arrived from the most inevitable source seven minutes before half-time as Suarez marked his return in style. Gerrard conceded possession in midfield and when Edinson Cavani delivered the perfect cross, Suarez pulled away from Jagielka to head across Hart before running to celebrate with the Uruguayan medical team who have nursed him back to fitness. England, as they did against Italy, responded strongly and Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera needed to be alert to block Sturridge at his near post. In a chaotic start to the second half, Suarez was wasteful as England appealed for offside and Cavani was guilty of a bad miss as he ran through on Hart. Rooney was almost the beneficiary of that escape when he found room in the area only eight yards out, but his shot was straight at Muslera. Hodgson, knowing what defeat would mean, made his first change after sixty four minutes by sending on Ross Barkley for Sterling, who had struggled to impose himself on Uruguay as he had against the Italians. England were moving into desperate times as the clock ran down - and it was Rooney who produced the goods with the equaliser fifteen minutes from time, tapping in from close range from Glen Johnson's perfect cross. Just as the momentum looked to be shifting towards England, Suarez was the tormentor again, latching on to the ball after Gerrard had lost an aerial challenge with Cavani, steadying himself before rifling an unstoppable finish high past Hart. It was the final word on this game - and probably on England's World Cup hopes. Like the Cuban Boys said all those years ago, some things never change.
Colombia are on the verge of clinching a last sixteen place after beating Côte d'Ivoire to secure their second win from as many Group C games. James Rodriguez headed in a near post corner and Juan Quintero slotted home after Serey Die was caught in possession to put Los Cafeteros 2-0 up. Gervinho skipped past three Colombia defenders and powered in a shot to give Côte d'Ivoire hope. The Ivorians exerted some late pressure but Colombia fended them off to win. Colombia had the greater attacking intent and Teofilo Gutierrez should have put them ahead. Replays showed the striker was marginally offside but he was not flagged and failed to capitalise when he horribly mistimed a side-footed effort from eight yards.
Still, he was faring better than Wilfried Bony. Swansea City's Ivorian striker failed to touch the ball in the opposition half, most glaringly when he failed to connect with two crosses when well-placed either side of half time. It was little surprise when he was replaced by Didier Drogba. Colombia, though, proved more potent. An acute angled Juan Cuadrado strike was tipped on to the face of the crossbar by keeper Boubacar Barry before the South Americans scored. Rodriguez powerfully headed in a Cuadrado corner for his second goal of the tournament. Côte d'Ivoire responded when Serge Aurier's cross almost sneaked in at the near post before being punched away by keeper David Ospina but The Elephants were the architects of their own downfall a few moments later. Die was caught in possession and Gutierrez released substitute Quintero to slot in. The Africans, who will be without makeshift centre-back Didier Zokora for their final group match against Greece after he picked up a second booking of the competition, raised themselves and reduced the deficit. Gervinho cut into the Colombia box from the left flank and, after dancing past three tackles, drove in a shot. The Ivorians pressed for an equaliser and Drogba was almost through on goal late on after a Mario Yepes mistake, only for keeper Ospina to rush out of his goal, clear the danger and ensure Colombia secured consecutive World Cup wins for the first time.
Japan and ten-man Greece played out a stalemate that keeps alive both teams' chances of progressing from Group C. Greece captain Konstantinos Katsouranis was sent off for two bookable offences before the break in Natal. The Greeks went close with a second-half header from Theofanis Gekas, which was saved by Eiji Kawashima. Yoshito Okubo missed from just a couple of yards and Atsuto Uchida also prodded wide from a good position as Japan were left frustrated. The draw leaves both teams on one point heading into the final round of group matches.
Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso says his country's dominance of world football is over after the defending champions' shock World Cup exit in Brazil. Defeat by Chile after that 5-1 thrashing by the Netherlands means the Euro 2012 winners cannot qualify from Group B. 'We didn't know how to maintain our hunger or that conviction needed to win a tournament,' said the thirty two year-old Real Madrid midfielder. 'The joy and success we've experienced is over.' On Tuesday, the former Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws man claimed media reports that the current generation were past their best were 'a little exaggerated', but speaking after their latest loss, he said: 'Normally cycles come to an end after a defeat. Maybe it would be best to think about making changes.' Manager Vicente Del Bosque says there will be 'consequences' of his side's exit and hinted that his six-year reign as national boss may be coming to an end. 'It's true that when such things happen during a World Cup or a tournament such things have consequences,' he said. 'We have time to analyse that and it is not the right time now.
There will be time to think and reflect what we are going to do. I think this team is good but we have to take a decision about what is good for Spanish football and that applies to myself as well.' He said that his side were 'sluggish and not brave enough' in the 2-0 loss to Chile, while captain Iker Casillas admitted that 'the commitment wasn't there. From the very first moment everything went awry,' said the goalkeeper. Spain went into the tournament having triumphed at their last three major tournaments - the European Championships of 2008 and 2012, and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. But La Roja's campaign in Brazil got off to a humiliating start when the Dutch came from behind to rout them in their opening game and when they then succumbed to two first-half goals by Eduardo Vargas and Charles Aranguiz at the Maracana on Wednesday, their reign as champions came to an abrupt halt. On Monday, Spain will face Australia, also eliminated after a 3-2 defeat by the Netherlands, in a battle to avoid finishing bottom of the group, while Chile take on the Dutch for top spot in Group B. The South American side's coach Jorge Sampaoli had some sympathy for Spain and described his side as 'the rebels' of the tournament. 'In football everything changes,' said the Argentine. Well, except for England's ability to shoot themselves in the foot with the world watching, of course. 'Spain has played very well over the years and had wonderful performances but today that generation of players couldn't keep that success going, and that's normal because success is not forever.' He added: 'We have a chance to see if this is the best Chile team ever but that is something we can only say after the tournament is over. We were very courageous in the way that we played and you could say that we are the rebels of this tournament.'
As expected, Hodgson played Rooney in a more central role and moved Raheem Sterling wide - but England struggled to find the same energy levels that fuelled such a positive (albeit, ultimately defeated) performance against Italy. Daniel Sturridge and Sterling could not pose the same threat as they had in Manaus and it was Rooney who came closest with a free-kick just inches wide and then a header against the bar at the far post from Steven Gerrard's free-kick. England were nervous at the back and were fortunate to survive when Phil Jagielka's sliced clearance fell to Cristian Rodriguez, whose rising drive from the angle just cleared the bar with goalkeeper Joe Hart - probably thinking about his next shampoo commercial - beaten. Uruguay were the more ordered side and the goal duly arrived from the most inevitable source seven minutes before half-time as Suarez marked his return in style. Gerrard conceded possession in midfield and when Edinson Cavani delivered the perfect cross, Suarez pulled away from Jagielka to head across Hart before running to celebrate with the Uruguayan medical team who have nursed him back to fitness. England, as they did against Italy, responded strongly and Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera needed to be alert to block Sturridge at his near post. In a chaotic start to the second half, Suarez was wasteful as England appealed for offside and Cavani was guilty of a bad miss as he ran through on Hart. Rooney was almost the beneficiary of that escape when he found room in the area only eight yards out, but his shot was straight at Muslera. Hodgson, knowing what defeat would mean, made his first change after sixty four minutes by sending on Ross Barkley for Sterling, who had struggled to impose himself on Uruguay as he had against the Italians. England were moving into desperate times as the clock ran down - and it was Rooney who produced the goods with the equaliser fifteen minutes from time, tapping in from close range from Glen Johnson's perfect cross. Just as the momentum looked to be shifting towards England, Suarez was the tormentor again, latching on to the ball after Gerrard had lost an aerial challenge with Cavani, steadying himself before rifling an unstoppable finish high past Hart. It was the final word on this game - and probably on England's World Cup hopes. Like the Cuban Boys said all those years ago, some things never change. Colombia are on the verge of clinching a last sixteen place after beating Côte d'Ivoire to secure their second win from as many Group C games. James Rodriguez headed in a near post corner and Juan Quintero slotted home after Serey Die was caught in possession to put Los Cafeteros 2-0 up. Gervinho skipped past three Colombia defenders and powered in a shot to give Côte d'Ivoire hope. The Ivorians exerted some late pressure but Colombia fended them off to win. Colombia had the greater attacking intent and Teofilo Gutierrez should have put them ahead. Replays showed the striker was marginally offside but he was not flagged and failed to capitalise when he horribly mistimed a side-footed effort from eight yards.
Still, he was faring better than Wilfried Bony. Swansea City's Ivorian striker failed to touch the ball in the opposition half, most glaringly when he failed to connect with two crosses when well-placed either side of half time. It was little surprise when he was replaced by Didier Drogba. Colombia, though, proved more potent. An acute angled Juan Cuadrado strike was tipped on to the face of the crossbar by keeper Boubacar Barry before the South Americans scored. Rodriguez powerfully headed in a Cuadrado corner for his second goal of the tournament. Côte d'Ivoire responded when Serge Aurier's cross almost sneaked in at the near post before being punched away by keeper David Ospina but The Elephants were the architects of their own downfall a few moments later. Die was caught in possession and Gutierrez released substitute Quintero to slot in. The Africans, who will be without makeshift centre-back Didier Zokora for their final group match against Greece after he picked up a second booking of the competition, raised themselves and reduced the deficit. Gervinho cut into the Colombia box from the left flank and, after dancing past three tackles, drove in a shot. The Ivorians pressed for an equaliser and Drogba was almost through on goal late on after a Mario Yepes mistake, only for keeper Ospina to rush out of his goal, clear the danger and ensure Colombia secured consecutive World Cup wins for the first time. Japan and ten-man Greece played out a stalemate that keeps alive both teams' chances of progressing from Group C. Greece captain Konstantinos Katsouranis was sent off for two bookable offences before the break in Natal. The Greeks went close with a second-half header from Theofanis Gekas, which was saved by Eiji Kawashima. Yoshito Okubo missed from just a couple of yards and Atsuto Uchida also prodded wide from a good position as Japan were left frustrated. The draw leaves both teams on one point heading into the final round of group matches.
Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso says his country's dominance of world football is over after the defending champions' shock World Cup exit in Brazil. Defeat by Chile after that 5-1 thrashing by the Netherlands means the Euro 2012 winners cannot qualify from Group B. 'We didn't know how to maintain our hunger or that conviction needed to win a tournament,' said the thirty two year-old Real Madrid midfielder. 'The joy and success we've experienced is over.' On Tuesday, the former Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws man claimed media reports that the current generation were past their best were 'a little exaggerated', but speaking after their latest loss, he said: 'Normally cycles come to an end after a defeat. Maybe it would be best to think about making changes.' Manager Vicente Del Bosque says there will be 'consequences' of his side's exit and hinted that his six-year reign as national boss may be coming to an end. 'It's true that when such things happen during a World Cup or a tournament such things have consequences,' he said. 'We have time to analyse that and it is not the right time now.
There will be time to think and reflect what we are going to do. I think this team is good but we have to take a decision about what is good for Spanish football and that applies to myself as well.' He said that his side were 'sluggish and not brave enough' in the 2-0 loss to Chile, while captain Iker Casillas admitted that 'the commitment wasn't there. From the very first moment everything went awry,' said the goalkeeper. Spain went into the tournament having triumphed at their last three major tournaments - the European Championships of 2008 and 2012, and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. But La Roja's campaign in Brazil got off to a humiliating start when the Dutch came from behind to rout them in their opening game and when they then succumbed to two first-half goals by Eduardo Vargas and Charles Aranguiz at the Maracana on Wednesday, their reign as champions came to an abrupt halt. On Monday, Spain will face Australia, also eliminated after a 3-2 defeat by the Netherlands, in a battle to avoid finishing bottom of the group, while Chile take on the Dutch for top spot in Group B. The South American side's coach Jorge Sampaoli had some sympathy for Spain and described his side as 'the rebels' of the tournament. 'In football everything changes,' said the Argentine. Well, except for England's ability to shoot themselves in the foot with the world watching, of course. 'Spain has played very well over the years and had wonderful performances but today that generation of players couldn't keep that success going, and that's normal because success is not forever.' He added: 'We have a chance to see if this is the best Chile team ever but that is something we can only say after the tournament is over. We were very courageous in the way that we played and you could say that we are the rebels of this tournament.'
