Derek Boateng forgives Luis Suarez before the World Cup grudge match. It looks like Ghana will score, making them the first African side to go to the World Cup semi-finals. Uruguay can no longer turn back time. Certainly not in the nick of time in overtime. However, one of the most famous handballs in history is about to be made by Luis Suarez.
Derek Boateng forgives Luis Suarez before the World Cup grudge match.
One of football’s most surprising rivalries has its delicious origins in an instant reaction. Ghana and Uruguay last played against each other in South Africa in 2010. Thus this rematch has World Cup qualification stakes twice as high as it had back then.
That pesky Suarez keeps getting in the way. Amid the action in Soccer City, Johannesburg, Derek Boateng sat on the bench for Ghana. As Suarez was sent off, he watched Asamoah Gyan’s penalty attempt go wide, and then he did nothing as his team lost in a penalty shootout.
“You know, as a footballer in that situation. I always say that to people. I was talking to my wife, and I said that if I were in that situation to help Ghana, I would do it because I have to defend my country, and I would do whatever I have to do to protect my country.
“All the fans are talking about revenge, revenge, revenge. But I do not believe in revenge in football. We have to go there and play our game, stick to our plan, do the right things at the right time and win the game… But the fans have a different opinion to us.”
