Roy Hodgson admitted that England were undone by two moments of brilliance from Luis Suarez as Uruguay left the Three Lions’ World Cup hopes in tatters.
After a closely-contested opening, the Liverpool striker headed in a left-wing cross to put his side ahead in the 39th minute, but Wayne Rooney tapped home Glen Johnson’s low pass to make it 1-1 with 15 minutes left.
However, Suarez powered in the winner six minutes from time after latching on to a goal-kick to leave England bottom of Group D after Saturday’s opening loss to Italy.
We came with such high hopes and were not able to deliver. It’s a major sadness
Roy Hodgson
“Suarez’s first goal in particular was exceptionally good,” said Hodgson. “Edinson Cavani’s chip and the cleverness of his header was top-class play.
“With the second one he was a bit fortunate to get himself free. But we know what Suarez can do.
“It’s a goal we don’t expect to concede of course. Long goal-kicks, with the type of players we have in the team, we [should] deal with them.”
The England boss continued: “We’re more than disappointed, we’re devastated. We believed we could do enough today to get a result in this game.
“Having worked so hard to counter that first goal, when we got back to 1-1 I fully believed that we would win the game or at least draw it. I don’t quite know what to say at this moment in time.”
The result means means that England will be out if Friday’s match between group rivals Italy and Costa Rica ends in a draw.
“I am bitterly disappointed,” Hodgson continued. “We came with such high hopes and were not able to deliver, it’s a major sadness.
“We conceded two goals, but didn’t concede many other chances at all. I thought we had a lot more possession but they stood firm and we couldn’t score.”