Luis Suarez left England on the brink of a World Cup exit as his double strike gave Uruguay victory in Sao Paulo.

Liverpool striker Suarez was making his return after a month out following knee surgery - and it proved to be bad timing for England and manager Roy Hodgson as his brilliance was the difference in a fiercely-fought encounter.

Suarez put Uruguay ahead with a first-half header then scored a superb winner six minutes from time after Wayne Rooney's first goal at a World Cup gave England hope of avoiding a second successive Group D loss.

But defeat means the odds are now stacked against England escaping this tough group. They will be out unless Italy - who overcame England in Manaus - beat Costa Rica on Friday.

They also need Italy to win their final game against Uruguay, which could then see England conceivably qualify on goal difference by beating Costa Rica next Tuesday, 24 June.

But for all the potential, a record of played two, lost two rarely adds up to anything other than elimination at the World Cup. No side have ever progressed after losing their first two matches.

And what an anti-climax it will be for manager Hodgson and his players if England are left playing for nothing other than pride in their final group game in Belo Horizonte.