Sunderland boss & former Uruguay star Gus Poyet claims “England are too nice”

Gus Poyet pulled off the inevitable this season as he guided Sunderland to Premier League safety

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet, who guided the Black Cats to Premier League safety from the foot of the table, has warned England that his country will do whatever it takes in order to beat England at the World Cup.

The two countries have been drawn into Group D in the upcoming World Cup alongside Italy and Costa Rica. With the latter very much being the minnows it is between England, Uruguay and Italy as to who will qualify.

“Uruguay will do whatever it takes to beat England. If I accept you’re better than me, I lose. How can I?” Poyet said.

“Are you helping me here? Are you covering me? Are you stopping them from playing? Sticking you a little bit, grabbing you, being stronger than you. Whatever it takes to win the game – yeah, we do that, and we are proud of it.

“I think that’s a way you win more than you lose. Do you want to win the game of football more than me? You’ve got no chance, because I will do more than you to win.”

The former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder also talked about Luis Suarez’s handball against Ghana in the last World Cup, reports the Mirror. Poyet was not critical of Suarez and explained his reasoning, suggesting that it was no different to dragging a player back.

“In England, you thought he was the villain of the last World Cup because he handled the ball on the line in the last minute, but what I am about to say is very normal for me and I hope you take it well…

“I know that, for you, handball on the line is cheating, but it’s not for us – it’s part of the game.

“If I’m the last man and I pull your shirt as you go past me, you go down and I get sent off, is that cheating? No, it’s not – you take a red card as the last man. Fine. Our reaction is the same as Suarez’s handball.

Poyet was also critical of England themselves saying that they are too nice and that they need to work harder in order to stop Uruguay’s main danger man.

Suarez scored 31 goals for Liverpool this season and formed a deadly partnership with England striker Daniel Sturridge. Despite suffering an injury scare he is set to be fit for the World Cup and will be the main threat to England.

“England are too nice, they need to get tougher. I don’t think that’s the only reason, but it’s a different way of suffering in the game. Running, giving it your all, being good on the ball, accepting responsibility, be together, helping each other, sorting out problems, sort it out. You’re on the pitch.

“Can you wind Suarez up? I think he has learned a lot – it was very difficult for him, and I would not say he’s a changed man because he still wants to win in the same way, but maybe he realises that when you’re playing in a different place you need to adapt.”