Ten-man Honduras ties England; Uruguay’s Suarez kicking ball again

AFP June 7, 2014

A look at the teams that Costa Rica will face in Group D at the World Cup:

MIAMI — England were held to a goalless draw by ten-man Honduras on Saturday in their final friendly before heading to Brazil for the World Cup.

Roy Hodgson’s team had the better chances in a largely scrappy game which was interrupted in the first half by a 43-minute suspension of play due to a severe lightning warning.

Honduras had Brayan Beckeles sent off in the 66th minute for a second bookable offence but will take heart from a battling display and a clean sheet after losing their previous two warm-up games 4-2 to Israel and 2-0 to Turkey.

England created several openings but failed to take advantage with Daniel Sturridge the main culprit.

Wayne Rooney made his third straight start for England, making him the only member of Roy Hodsgon’s squad to play in all three pre-World Cup warm-ups.

Honduras were reduced to ten men in the 66th minute when Beckeles was given a second yellow card after he recklessly caught Leighton Baines with an arm to the head as he flew in to a challenge for a header.

England start their World Cup Group D campaign against Italy in Manaus on June 14.

Report: Suarez kicking ball again

MONTEVIDEO — Luis Suarez kicked a ball again during World Cup training Saturday just 16 days after undergoing knee surgery, Uruguayan media reported.

The Liverpool striker has been “walking, running a little in a straight line and for the first time kicked the ‘Brazuca’ ball”, said the Uruguayan football website Tenfield.

“He played short passes and did some headers”, Uruguayan newspaper Ovacion reported of the team training session, which was supposed to take place behind closed doors.

On Friday, Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said Suarez’s rehabilitation was proceeding well.

The 27-year-old is a key element in Uruguay’s team after the best season of his career when he was top scorer in the English Premier League with 31 goals for Liverpool, who finished runners-up to Manchester City.

Suarez underwent a knee operation on May 22 in Montevideo to fix a problem with his meniscus. Uruguay opens the World Cup against Costa Rica on June 14.

Results from World Cup warm-up internationals played on Saturday:

At Brussels

Belgium 1 (Mertens 88) Tunisia 0

At La Plata, Argentina

Argentina 2 (Alvarez 11, Messi 75) Slovenia 0

At Yaounde

Cameroon 1 (Edgar Salli 30) Moldova 0

At Washington

Spain 2 (Villa 60, 87) El Salvador 0

At Miami

England 0 Honduras 0

At Jacksonville