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Sri Lanka win Greece oust England series Ivory Coast WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25,16 2014 19 Baby Kluivert’ Origi relishing world stage RIO DE JANEIRO: Divock Origi may have been a virtual unknown before the World Cup but ‘Baby Kluivert’ is sure to be on many top European clubs’ shopping list when he leaves Brazil. Uruguay boot The Belgian teenager was the hero of the hour in his team’s 1-0 win over Russia on Sunday that propelled them into the last 16 with a group game to spare. Twice the 19-year-old has replaced Romelu Lukaku and brought energy and freshness to the Belgian forward line. “It hasn’t sunk in what’s happening to me. Playing at a World Cup, scoring at the Maracana in front of my parents and my sister. It’s crazy,” said Origi after his match- winner against Russia. His quick rise to Italy out prominence is not such a shock though. Origi’s father, a Kenyan called Mike, was a professional footballer who played with Suarez faces new biting storm Genk in Belgium. Origi himself was born in Belgium, in Ostend, where his family settled. NATAL: Yet he moved to Lille at the age of 15 and it Uruguay skipper Diego Godin scored was there that he was given his first team debut at to send Italy crashing out of the World Cup 17, scoring just six minutes after coming on as a sub- yesterday but the South Americans star stitute in a game against Troyes. striker Luis Suarez faced a new biting storm. And Origi is proud to have come off a production line Uruguay beat Italy 1-0 in the tense in Lille that has already provided two key elements in the match in which the Europeans ended Belgium national team, Eden Hazard and Kevin Mirallas. “I’m with 10-men and left the World Cup at proud to follow in the footsteps of players like Kevin and the group phase for the second time in Eden,” said Origi. succession. But amid the celebrations, “And for the fans, I’m the new Belgian at Lille. But what immediate attention fell on a clash Eden’s done here (at Lille) has never been seen before, his is an between Suarez and Italian defender incredible talent,” Origi told Belgian weekly magazine Ciorgio Chiellini who showed teeth Sport/Footmagazine. marks in his shoulder after. Like Hazard, who spurned the advances of many of Television replays showed Suarez-who Europe’s biggest clubs in 2011 to remain one more season has twice been sanctioned for biting play- at Lille and experience Champions League football before ers-appearing to attempt to sink his teeth heading to Chelsea a year later, Origi seems to have a wise into Chiellini’s shoulder in an off-the-ball head on his young shoulders. incident. Although his family is Kenyan, Origi’s loyalty to Italy won the 2006 World Cup, then failed Belgium is without question, yet it was his desire to get to reach the last 16 in South Africa four years ago. the best start to his career that saw him leave home at They required only a draw against Uruguay at such a young age and try his luck with Lille, despite Estadio das Dunas in Natal to go through this time. having started out in the youth set-up at his father’s However the Azzurri suffered a critical blow ear- old club. ly in the second half when Claudio Marchisio was “Belgium for me is a no-brainer, I’ve never thought sent off for a studs-up challenge. about playing for any other national colors. Belgium is Shortly after the Suarez-Chiellini incident, my home,” he said. Godin rose in a crowded box and the ball “I was very happy at Genk but I thought the rebounded off his shoulder to beat Buffon in the 81st minute. Uruguay’s win means they French academy and Lille were at a higher level. “It leapfrog Italy to join Costa Rica in the last 16 of wasn’t an easy choice because there were other the tournament. clubs in Germany, England, everywhere really. Italy coach Cesare Prandelli deployed a “Right now I remain convinced that France was 3-5-2 designed to tighten the Azzurri the best option. And on top of that, I was defence and give them attacking options touched by Hazard’s success.” While on the wings with Matteo Darmian and Hazard is perhaps the benchmark, it is to Mattia De Sciglio. former Dutch international Patrick But despite a solid display in a score- Kluivert that Origi is compared in Lille. less first-half, the Azzurri’s hunt for “Baby Kluivert, is a nickname that goals-led by Ciro Immobile and Mario Salomon Kalou gave me. It’s obvi- Balotelli-reaped no reward. ously flattering but I’m not getting Uruguay, starting with the same 4- carried away.” Origi’s chance in the 4-2 line-up that defeated England 2-1, limelight owes itself to the misfor- came closest early on when a free kick tune of Aston Villa striker Christian whipped in deep by Luiz Suarez forced Benteke, who ruptured his Achilles Buffon into a desperate punch-out. tendon a few weeks ago, ruling him Celeste strikers Suarez and Edinson out of the tournament. “It goes without Cavani were described by Prandelli as one of the most potent strike duo’s at the World Cup, but they saying, I hardly expected to be at the were mostly kept on a tight rein during a nervous first half. World Cup. I’m surprised because it’s Italy suffered a blow when Balotelli was cautioned for a needless high tackle on Inter’s Alvaro always good to be in a talented group like Pereira, who felt the AC Milan striker’s this, with great players,” said Origi. boot come “Now I believe that if you’re here, it’s over the back because you deserve to be.” Benteke would have of his head. Balotelli’s yel- challenged Lukaku for the sole striking role in Marc low card Wilmots’s team whereas the Belgium boss sees Origi’s means he will role as more that of an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. miss Italy’s next “I noticed at Lille that Divock always played well match, although when he came on as a type of joker,” said Wilmots. “He that will now be doesn’t need much time to get into the rhythm and after the World Cup. become effective.” With Belgium already qualified, the Paris Saint Germain supersub might get the opportunity to show his skills midfielder Marco Verratti from the start and give his coach even more of a selec- was Italy’s star performer tion headache. — AFP thus far. On the half hour he dis- possessed Cavani to launch Balotelli but the striker failed to release as Immobile ran through into an offside position. Minutes later Andrea Pirlo’s smart short pass found De Sciglio on the left but the wingback’s pinpoint delivery to unmarked Immobile was volleyed off target. Explosive talent of Italy were composed, but minutes before half-time Buffon had to make two critical saves to keep the scoresheet clean, first stopping Suarez’s snap-shot down low with his left arm and then denying Nicolas hand, mouth and foot Lodeiro from the follow-up. Prandelli replaced Balotelli with midfielder NATAL: Luis Suarez is one of the explosive talents Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic during another Premier League game. Parolo at half-time, a tactical switch that and characters in football who scores sublime The barrage of criticism that greeted both incidents would have been suggested the Azzurri would happily goals at crucial moments and enough to shatter the spirit of many players and it would have been no hold on for the scoreless draw. then scars his reputation with surprise to see Suarez quit England. On 58 minutes Cristian Rodriguez his seemingly uncontrol- But the man nicknamed “El Pistolero” or the gun-slinger in Uruguay is sent a great chance wide of the target lable mouth. made of sterner stuff. Suarez was brought back into the fold by Reds boss after a smart one-two with Suarez on The hot-headed Brendan Rodgers following the conclusion of the ban for the Ivanovic the left flank. Moments later, Uruguayan is back in trou- clash and he returned with a sustained burst of brilliance that saw him Marchisio was given his marching ble after a new alleged biting score 31 Premier League goals and claim the players’ Footballer of the orders for his challenge on controversy at the World Cup after a stunning season Year title. Egidio Arevalo. The decision with Liverpool when his brilliance on the pitch had started to ease memo- Suarez was at his brilliant best again during Liverpool’s 6-3 victory over had the expected impact, ries of past brushes with authority. Cardiff in March, netting his third hat-trick of the season. and after Suarez burst But the 27-year-old has quite a history. The 2010 World Cup quarter- The scintillating run of form, which took Liverpool to the verge of through confidently on final between Uruguay and Ghana was level 1-1 in the final minute of claiming the Premier League title, rehabilitated his image in the eyes of 65 minutes Buffon had extra-time when Suarez used his hand to keep out Dominic Adiyah’s many in England. There was also widespread sympathy for the striker to get down low to header.