Suarez should win goalkeeper award, jokes Stekelenburg

The Holland keeper sent a cheeky text message to Luis Suarez nominating his Ajax teammate for the World Cup's best goalkeeper award.

The Holland keeper Maarten Stekelenburg sent a cheeky text message to Luis Suarez on Friday night nominating his Ajax teammate for the World Cup's best goalkeeper award. Suarez will miss the World Cup semi-final tussle between Uruguay and Holland in Cape Town tomorrow as a consequence of the deliberate handball in the final seconds of extra-time that denied Ghana a place in the last four. The Ghanian forward Asamoah Gyan saw his penalty come back off the bar leaving the scores level at the end of extra-time and the Uruguayans triumphed in the shoot-out. The incident has left a sour taste, with some critics suggesting Fifa should invoke a rule change that would allow for a 'penalty goal' in much the same manner as a try is still awarded in rugby if a deliberate attempt is made to stop one that would definitely have been scored. Stekelenburg is not getting involved in the politics, but he is happy to have a bit of fun at Suarez's expense. "I sent him a text message saying that he has been the best goalkeeper of the tournament," Stekelenburg told De Telegraaf. "I think he should get the Lev Yashin Award." There is a more serious point for Stekelenburg to make though. As Suarez is missing, the 27-year-old knows Uruguay will be weakened, which offers Holland a better chance of reaching their first World Cup final since 1978. "The important matter is that he cannot play," he said. "It is a big thing because he is always a threat."

* PA Sport