Luis Suarez says England double ‘way to demonstrate everything I wanted to prove’

Luis Suarez, the controversial yet gifted striker, said he was delighted to prove a point after scoring two goals to see Uruguay to a 2-1 victory over England on Thursday, revealing he had taken time to console his Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard.

The 27-year-old forward has regularly made the headlines for all the wrong reasons since he joined the English Premier League side in 2011.

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He started last season completing a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic – a punishment that came a year after he received an eight-game suspension for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.

Even before he joined Liverpool, Suarez was dubbed “the cannibal of Ajax” when he bit an opponent’s shoulder and was handed a seven-game ban.

“I’m very happy about this victory. I wanted to help the team, try to get three important points, but it’s not the final word,” said Suarez, who was voted player of the season by his peers in England.

“It was a dream afternoon because we won, because of the way we won, and for what the rival meant to me, for everything that was said, the doubts, and this was a way to demonstrate everything I wanted to prove.”

Suarez, back in action just four weeks after knee surgery, put Uruguay ahead with a 39th-minute header before Wayne Rooney equalised.

But the Uruguayan had the final say when he latched on to a long ball and smashed home the winner five minutes from time after Gerrard mistimed a header in midfield.

Suarez, who missed Uruguay’s opening defeat to Costa Rica, said he was delighted to prove he was playing at a “world-class level” despite speculation over his fitness.

Asked what he told Gerrard after the game, he said: “I said keep going and forget about this game.”

England manager Roy Hodgson raised the stakes ahead of Thursday’s match in Sao Paulo by saying Suarez had yet to prove he’s a world-class striker.

Speaking about Hodgson, Suarez said: “He sees me all year long over there. He knows what I’m worth as a player, as a person, and these things help to build courage and character going forward.

“It’s a very important victory that we wanted, that we needed because we knew it was a crucial and vital game for us,” he added.

“We won but we haven’t qualified yet. We need to keep our feet to the ground because we have another game, against Italy.”

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times

If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.

A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.

The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.

In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.

The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.

Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.

Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.

“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.

The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.

“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.

“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

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Luis Suarez says England double ‘way to demonstrate everything I wanted to prove’

Luis Suarez sounded a triumphant tone following his pair of goals to down England on Thursday, saying 'It was a dream afternoon'.

It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times

The Sand Castle

Guide to intelligent investing