England left themselves with everything to do ahead of their final group game in the World Cup, after a 2-1 loss to Uruguay on Thursday evening left them at the bottom of their group with 0 points. Luis Suárez scored the winner for his country after opening the scoring prior to a Wayne Rooney equaliser - an equaliser that signaled Rooney's first ever goal at a World Cup finals. However, it wasn't enough as Uruguay scored the winner minutes before the end.
England started relatively well, even after the disappointment of their game against Italy last weekend. They had a few decent chances, and Rooney almost put his side ahead when a brilliant costless kick from just outside the box curled just wide of Fernando Muslera's post, which the goalkeeper rooted. The Manchester United striker also nearly scored when he hit the bar with a header from an angle.
It was only a matter of time before Uruguay exerted their superiority, after gaining control of much of the play in the game. They took the lead after 39 minutes, when Paris Saint-Germain star Edinson Cavani crossed the ball in, and Liverpool striker Suárez planted a world class header past the diving hand of Joe Hart. It was a deserved lead for the South Americans.
Despite many England fans expecting their team to come out and fight to try and get some sort of result out of the tie, Uruguay dominated most of the start of the second half, coming close to scoring when catching Joe Hart out at corners. England tried to attack on the break, but their chances were cut short by the Uruguay defence.
After the arrivals of Ross Barkley and Adam Lallana however, England did eventually score via Wayne Rooney. Glen Johnson got forward well and put the ball low and across the six-yard box for Rooney to place in an easy finish - but deserved nonetheless. This came after he had already had an earlier chance superbly saved by Muslera.
The equaliser gave Roy Hodgson's side new drive to go on and try and claim their first win of the tournament; however it would be Uruguay who would go on and net the winner five minutes from time. A long ball was hit towards Luis Suárez, and although there appeared to be little danger a poor header from Steven Gerrard put his club team-mate through; the ex-Ajax striker then put the ball superbly past Joe Hart.
Despite two early losses, England can still feasibly qualify from the group stages (if they didn't, it would be the first England side since 1958 to not progress past this stage). An element of luck is required though - England must rely on beating Costa Rica in their third group game, whilst also hoping Italy can beat Uruguay and Costa Rica in their final two games. It may be improbable, but it most certainly isn't impossible.
