Nobody wanted to leave. Centenary of Montevideo. It had already been 40 minutes after the Argentine’s final whistle. Herrera, The video with the best goals of the season had already been seen. Luis Suarezthe messages had already been heard Messi, Neymar, Enzo Francescoli and ‘Loco’ Abreu At Luis’s farewell, the Master Tabarez to embrace the honoree, but no one wanted to leave. The people, the common fan, went to the Stadium to thank. To thank Suarez for 17 years of loyalty to the Uruguayan shirt, for 143 matches, for 69 goals, for epicness and resilience, for feeling identified with the idol. Then, when the music began to fade and the show at the end of the match began to end, still, nobody wanted to leave. Because leaving that seat was assuming that the “9” will never wear the “9” shirt again. Uruguay. And so it is, even if it is hard to believe.
In the middle, there was a football match. South American Qualifiers. The worst of the era. Bielsa for Uruguay. Without offensive connection, without intensity on Roberto Fernández’s goal and with only one clear chance in 90 minutes, a ball that hit the post after a pirouette by who else? Luis Suarezto the center of Pellistri. There was a match that represented the beginning of the Gustavo Alfaro era for Paraguay, and an outline of the recovery of the DNA of Paraguayan football as always, brave, well planted in the back, safe, and with liveliness and speed to take advantage of Uruguay’s defensive errors. With the skill and power of the young Julio Encisofrom English Brighton, and with the wisdom of Miguel Almirón, also up front.
Monolith called ‘Luis Suárez Arch’
The Celeste was unable to hide the absences due to injury and suspension. In the back line they lost Ronald Araújo, Josema Gimenez, Mathias Olivera and Matías Viña. In the middle, Rodrigo Bentancur, Nicolás de la Cruz and Giorgian De Arrascaeta. And up top, none other than the top scorer of the South American Qualifiers, Darwin Nuñez. Too much.
Paraguay had less of the ball than Uruguaybut it was more dangerous. The home team suffered the match and could have lost it. But in the end it was 0-0.
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The 50,000 people who packed the Centenario Stadium didn’t care. They had come to thank. And not just to thank. Suarezbut also to an entire generation, because with Luis’s retirement from the Uruguayan national team, the cycle of South Africa 2010, which allowed the Charrúas to return to the forefront of world football, is definitively closed. So, the Diego Forlanthe Diego Godín, the Diego Lugano, the own Master Tabarezreceived affection from the stands.
“You left a great legacy,” his friend told him. Leo Messi, through a video that was seen on the giant screen. Suárez also received from Conmebol a replica of the Copa América, which he won in Argentina in 2011.
And he stayed, and stayed longer. He went to the Colombes Grandstand arch, which was baptized by a monolith. ‘Luis Suarez arch’, and looked at him and looked at him.
The last dance came to an end. This time without his goal, because the post became capricious and denied him.
Final curtain.
And silence…
