England World Cup 2014: Diego Forlan says Three Lions were 'afraid' of Luis Suarez

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Uruguay striker Diego Forlan believes England were running scared of his team as soon as they saw Luis Suarez was to start in Sao Paulo.

Suarez was not fully fit after knee surgery last month, but still managed to score two goals as Roy Hodgson's side crashed out at the group stage after Costa Rica beat Italy.

The Liverpool man had not played in the first game which Uruguay ended up losing to 3-1 to Group D's surprise package.

"He got three good chances," Forlan told ESPN. "The first, he scored. The second one, he hit wide. A fit Luis would have scored that. And the third one, he scored to win the game.

"He never stopped fighting.

"That's Luis, he's never changed, not since I first saw him as a 17-year-old. I think England were afraid of him because they knew what he's done while playing in England."

Suarez scored 31 Premier League goals for Liverpool last season as the Reds mounted a surprise title challenge.

The 27-year-old guided a first-half header from an Edinson Cavani cross past Joe Hart before pouncing on a defensive mistake to smash home the winner in the 84th minute.

Uruguay must beat Italy in the final game to qualify, a draw will not be enough because of their inferior goal difference.