Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 8y

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez felt 'anxious' ahead of Uruguay return

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has admitted he felt "anxious" as he finally returned to competitive international football almost two years after biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup.

Suarez, a Liverpool player at the time, was initially suspended by FIFA from all football activity but still moved to Barcelona that summer for €80 million despite missing the first four months of the 2014-15 club season.

At international level the sanction ran to nine competitive games, including the 2015 Copa America, but Suarez was back and scored in last Thursday's 2-2 draw against Brazil, while he then set up teammate Edinson Cavani for the only goal in Tuesday's 1-0 victory over Peru.

With Oscar Washington Tabarez's side now leading CONMEBOL's World Cup qualifying table with 13 points from their first six games, the Blaugrana star said in AS that he felt happier now that his return had gone well.

"I was a little bit anxious -- but I am leaving now happier for everything we have achieved," Suarez said. "We managed to get four points from these two fixtures."

Not for the first time in recent years, Uruguay impressed against a major side in the battling draw against Brazil in Recife, but then found it more difficult when being expected to control the game at home to a team that qualifies for World Cups on a less regular basis, such as Peru.

"We all know that there are no favourites in these qualifiers, and all games are difficult," Suarez said. "Whenever people say we are favourites, it is harder for us."

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