While the goalkeeper laughed off his bed-bug scare, he was quick to state that Uruguay will treat Costa Rica with the utmost seriousness in their opening World Cup clash

Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was given an unwelcome scare on Thursday evening, when he found his bed had been invaded by a swarm of ants.

The Galatasaray goalkeeper tweeted about the incident, but in a press conference on Friday ahead of his nation’s World Cup opener against Costa Rica, he was quick to laugh off the night-time invasion.

“It was a comical situation because I found ants in my bed,” he said. “But nothing happened. People came, changed the bedsheets and we resolved it. I had a good night’s sleep.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s fixture, he was keen to stress that his side will be treating their Central American opponents with the utmost respect.

“It’s an extremely important match but we don’t believe that Costa Rica are weak – we have great respect for them. Obviously to win the first match is important. It gives confidence for the games ahead.

“We don’t feel like favourites. We know the first game is difficult. To have a good result takes a burden from shoulders. We feel fit and we’re well prepared.”

Uruguay finished third in 2010, and the shot-stopper believes his side can replicate such a success.

“We have experience from South Africa. Since then, we’ve made international achievements, we’ve grown a lot,” he stated. “We know we have the ability to go far. But we know we have tough rivals ahead. We have to be cool and calm. In Uruguay, there is an advert about humility and modestly, and that sums it up well.”

After facing Costa Rica on Saturday, Uruguay face England and Italy respectively in their other Group D encounters.

The former Ajax man is recovering well from injury but will not be risked on Saturday in his side’s opening World Cup clash

By Robin Bairner in Fortaleza

Luis Suarez will sit out Uruguay’s World Cup opener against Costa Rica on Saturday, although the Liverpool forward’s recovery from knee surgery remains on track.

Suarez damaged the meniscus in his left knee in training in the build-up to the Brazil showpiece and was always facing a race against time to be fit for the game in Fortaleza.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez confirmed on Friday his star striker would not make it even if “all goes well” in training.

He added: “The doctor said he wasn’t ruled out for the World Cup, that was his first report. That’s why he’s in the squad.

“We are increasing his pace of recovery and up until now there have been no glitches.

 “Yesterday afternoon he trained fully, and actually played football. There are no problems at all. But, obviously, he’s not at the level demanded in a full match.” 

Tabarez would rather Suarez missed the Costa Rica game than jeopardise his participation in the trickier Group D games to come, against England and Italy. 

He added: “We don’t want to jump gun, but we have prepared without Luis. But we have to be very careful. We have to think about the players.

“He is recovering very well, but we have to be very careful and manage things carefully.”

Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani and Cerezo Osaka’s Diego Forlan are set to lead the line in Saturday’s encounter, which Tabarez believes could be key to launching his side towards an even stronger showing than their third-placed finish in 2010.

“My team has evolved a great deal, not only in terms of matches but also in terms of performance in tough leagues,” he explained.

“They’re at their prime, 26 or 27-years-old, and most of the players have won titles. At the South Africa World Cup, some of these guys were only 22 or 23, they’ve evolved, not only because of time but because of what they’ve done since.”

Although Uruguay had to qualify for Brazil via a playoff, the coach believes this is “not important” on the eve of his third World Cup experience and is focusing on a simplistic approach to his side’s play.

“We don’t want to complicate manners. We want to play in a straightforward manner and capitalise on the time we’ve had together. I believe I have a very good squad and I’m going to use my players according to circumstances.”

The former Three Lions manager feels that the West Ham striker would have been a better bet to unsettle defences at the World Cup but hopes that the Liverpool man will step up

Former England manager Glenn Hoddle believes the Three Lions could regret calling up Rickie Lambert ahead of Andy Carroll for the World Cup.
The 32-year-old made Roy Hodgson’s 23-man party after a fine season with Southampton that earned him a summer move to Liverpool, while an injury-disrupted campaign saw the West Ham star pick up only two goals in 15 games.

Carroll had an impact at Euro 2012, however, and Hoddle feels that he would have terrorised defences in Brazil – unlike Lambert, whom he has so far found “disappointing” at international level.

“Andy Carroll would have been in my England squad – he would have scared the life out of any defence,” wrote Hoddle for hill.com.

“He would have terrorised the Italians coming off the bench because they simply wouldn’t know how to handle him.

“Rickie Lambert was chosen ahead of Carroll, who is on standby, but he didn’t impress me, the way he led the line in Roy Hodgson’s shadow team against Ecuador. I thought he was disappointing.

“This World Cup more than any other, managers such as Roy Hodgson will want impact players – potential match-winners coming off the bench.

“I am not being critical of Roy’s selection. I am merely stating an opinion. He may prove me wrong and I hope that he does.

“As an England manager myself I know everyone wants to pick the England team, select the squad, everyone has an opinion and, the majority of the time, it’s a different one from the actual England manager.

“Roy is entitled to go with what he sees and that includes form inside the camp, which we don’t see, so his opinion is the one that counts the most and his decisions should be respected the most.”

Glenn Hoddle is Hill.com’s official World Cup blogger in Rio de Janeiro.