Rio Ferdinand had but one word to describe Uruguay last night: ‘clinical’.
The former England defender, thought to be on QPR’s shopping list, summed up a bad night in Sao Paulo.
Still, lucky Liverpool – lucky England in the future.
One of the few bright sparks in a 2-1 dismal defeat was the performance of Raheem Sterling.
On a night when England gave the ball away like someone dispensing flyers on a street corner, the QPR academy product did his bit both with clever twists and agile weaves.
In fact, he had the scant consolation of going after an hour, so in no way was to blame for the late Luis Suarez winner that sees England needing snookers to get through.
This is the World Cup not Walt Disney, and double wins for Italy, not to mention a win over Costa Rica on Tuesday is an order as tall as the Christo Redentor statue overlooking Rio.
Wayne Rooney’s early free-kick was just over; his header from a corner likewise a smidgin high as it hit the bar in the first half, and at long last he scored after firing straight at the keeper, but a fellow Liverpudlian had an unwitting hand in both Uruguay goals.
Steven Gerrard has seen better nights.
His misjudged header sent his Reds team-mate through six minutes from time, and his non-tackle on Suarez in the first half led to the man himself picking up the final pass for a headed goal.
Maybe, Suarez should have played for Manchester United.
Chelsea’s Gary Cahill was solid enough in that England centre-half sort of way. But Frank Lampard seems destined to wear the sub's bib all the way to the bus, home, and out of the English game he’s graced so well for 19 years after Tuesday.
Greece captain Konstantinos Katsouranis was sent off in a drama-packed 0-0 draw with Japan.
But from a Fulham point of view, Kostas Mitroglou limping off after 34 minutes may yet have after shocks.
Greece were shored up after the red card by Whites team-mate Georgios Karagounis coming off the bench, and held out for the draw.
In the third match of the day, ex-Chelsea suffered at the hands of Colombia.
Sub Didier Drogba and Soloman Kalou could only agonise as Ivory Coast lost 2-1, putting the South Americans into the knockout phase.
