Copa América: Luis Suárez having fun with last moments with Uruguay

Uruguay striker Luis Suárez mentioned he is aware of he’s inching nearer to retirement however is hoping to benefit from the last stretch of a stellar profession, no matter what number of minutes he will get on the pitch on the Copa América.

Suarez is Uruguay’s all-time prime scorer with 68 worldwide targets and though the 37-year-old has solely come on as a late substitute in two video games on the the match — totalling eight minutes thus far — he isn’t one to complain.

“I am having fun with each second very a lot. It’s one thing that at my age, as you grow old, you get pleasure from it increasingly more whether or not you are taking part in rather a lot or taking part in somewhat, as a result of you understand that the flame of soccer is dying out,” Suarez informed AUF TV.

“I am only one extra [player in the squad], you have already seen it. Taking part in or not taking part in, I am proud of the half I am doing and making an attempt to assist as a lot as I can.”

As soon as one of many most-feared strikers in Europe, Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone had described an important interval within the 2020-21 title race as getting into the “Luis Suarez zone”, when the striker’s expertise guided them to their final league title.

However with Uruguay set to face Brazil in Saturday’s high-octane quarterfinal, Suarez is inserting his confidence within the younger gamers coming via the ranks to get the job executed.

“I hope it [the zone] does not seem on this Copa as a result of that may imply that Uruguay is doing nicely and that it isn’t needed. If it is wanted, we’ll be there as a result of we hope to jot down one other chapter within the nationwide workforce,” he mentioned.

“This group gave a really huge blow within the World Cup qualifiers by beating Brazil and Argentina. They earned that energy on the pitch by displaying that they’ll beat anybody… The time has come to show it and it is an awesome check for us.”

Suarez has additionally been mentoring 25-year-old striker Darwin Núñez, who adopted in his footsteps by signing for Premier League aspect Liverpool and has scored twice within the match.

“I attempt to assist as a lot as I can, I used to be in Darwin’s place, I used to be Darwin’s age,” Suarez mentioned.

“El ‘Loco’ [Sebastian Abreu] was the primary to help me and in the present day, being in that place, it’s a must to be a motivation for him.”