Montevideo - The prospect of playing England for their World Cup lives is filling Uruguay forward Luis Suarez with wild emotions, the Liverpool player told his country's media.
For a player twice banned for biting opponents during his career, Suarez told Ovacion Digital that Thursday's match is stirring up “babarian” and “savage” feelings within him.
“I have a barbarian desire to help my team-mates, to be able to go onto the pitch,” said Suarez, who missed Uruguay's 3-1 defeat to Costa Rica due to a knee injury.
“I feel like not being able to (play) has left me with savage impotence.
“There was a great risk (to his knee if he played before) but now several more days of rehabilitation have passed and I'm better.”
Until now there had been doubts about Suarez's ability to recover from the meniscus operation he underwent in May in time for this game, but the 27-year-old insisted he is ready.
“I'm 100 percent, if it wasn't the case, I wouldn't play. I always said I'd come back once I felt fine, once I was at 100 percent, and now I am.
“Maybe I'm lacking some football, or rhythm, that's obvious because I've been inactive, but physically I'm in great shape.”
There was considerable doom and gloom around the Uruguay camp after their shock defeat to minnows Costa Rica.
But the South American champions still believe they can progress.
“What can I tell the fans? To have faith in us. What happened the other day was a defeat that hurt but it hasn't deflated us,” said Suarez.
“We need to show our character, our spirit to tackle these next two games (they also play Italy) which we need to progress.”
He admitted that character and spirit was lacking when Uruguay suffered the shock of going behind to Costa Rica having led 1-0 at half-time.
“We didn't manage to get over the second goal, it drained us and set them free, they were different (thereafter).
“But now we have a great chance for revenge on Thursday.
“It won't be easy, England have great players, those who can make a difference. They're a very strong team but like all teams they have strengths and weaknesses.
“What we have to do is exploit their defensive weaknesses and try to concentrate and be careful in our area.”
It is last chance saloon for both sides with England having lost their opener 2-1 to Italy.
Defeat for either would almost certainly guarantee elimination and Suarez expects that to play on the players' minds.
“We both know what type of game we're going to play. There's no margin for error, we know we're on the limit, on the brink of elimination. That way we all know what we're playing for.”
Once kick-off comes, Suarez will put to one side personal relationships with his club team-mates at Liverpool, such as captain Steven Gerrard.
“He'll give his best for his team and me for mine. We both know it's like this and this is the way it should be.
“Afterwards, away from the pitch, it's a different story.”
Sapa-AFP