When asked on Thursday, the Uruguayan striker refused to apologize for the 2010 World Cup incident; the two teams meet in a Group H match, with the winner knocking the other team out of the World Cup.
8.30 p.m., Al Janoub Stadium, Ghana vs. Uruguay (Group H).
On Thursday, Luis Suarez was as adamant as he was 12 years ago.
During the pre-match press conference in Doha, a Ghanaian journalist was blunt in his assessment of the Uruguayan striker. "Some Ghana fans believe you are the devil himself," the journalist began, before going on to say how the country was looking forward to his retirement and finally asking him if he would apologize.Suarez responded, rather cheekily, "(sic) I did handball the ball, but the Ghanaian player missed the penalty, not me." Maybe I'd apologize if I made a tackle, injured a player, and got a red card. But, in this case... It's not my fault. I didn't miss the penalty. The player who missed the penalty would do the same. It is not my responsibility how he shot the penalty."As a result, the stage was set for a fiery reunion between the two teams, who last met in 2010 at Soccer City in Johannesburg. It was the World Cup quarterfinals, and Ghana had played some breathtaking football to stretch a star-studded Uruguayan side that included Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan at their best.When the clock struck the final minute of extra time, the score was 1-1. Ghana had won a free kick on the right flank, and a cross was whipped into the box, causing chaos. A Ghanaian head flicked it goalwards; the Uruguayan goalkeeper stepped out to catch the ball but completely missed it; a defender then made a goal-line clearance that went straight to Dominic Adiyah, whose header was well on target.
Celebrations had already begun inside the Johannesburg stadium, on the streets of Accra, and throughout Africa. With the goalkeeper on the ground and only one man on the line, nothing seemed to be stopping Ghana from scoring the game-winning goal.Suarez appeared out of nowhere and prevented Adiyah's header from going into the goal. Suarez was given his marching orders after making a point-blank save that any goalkeeper would be proud of.
A continent was shocked
At that point, one could feel African hearts breaking into a million pieces. There was stunned silence in the stadium and across public screenings in South Africa, where the entire host nation was rooting for them. The players appeared surprised by Suarez's bravado. They never recovered - Asamoah Gyan missed the ensuing penalty, and the Black Stars eventually lost in a penalty shootout.Suarez erupted in wild celebrations after Gyan blew his chance, further antagonizing a nation and a continent. It was dubbed the 'Hand of Devil' moment, a reference to Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal against England in 1986.Suarez recalled that moment in a Players Tribune interview with former Barcelona teammate Gerard Pique: "I took a risk in a situation where I was blamed for anti-fair play... I celebrated in this way because I had taken a risk for something worthwhile. And I recall celebrating it as more than a goal. On that play, a bench player collapsed (laughs). Castillo, Juan... He passed out in joy after scoring the penalty kick. And, well, I left yelling (laughing)."
The incident has become part of World Cup lore, but as Suarez was asked on Thursday, it isn't a laughing matter for Ghanaians. They are still in pain .
When they meet again on Friday, emotions will be running high. The winner will eliminate the other team from the tournament. For the Black Stars, this is their chance to bury the ghosts of Soccer City and advance past the group stages for the first time since 2010.
It's an opportunity for Uruguay, who have struggled so far in Qatar, to pile more misery on Ghana. And they'll be hoping for some assistance from Suarez.
Other games scheduled for the day include:
Portugal vs. South Korea, 8.30 p.m., Education City Stadium
Brazil vs. Cameroon, 12.30 a.m. (Saturday), Lusail Stadium
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