The Atletico Madrid centre-back scored late on to clinch a last-16 berth at the expense of Cesare Prandelli’s side, as Luis Suarez was embroiled in yet more controversy

Diego Godin struck late on to send Uruguay into the last-16 of the World Cup and dump 10-man Italy out of the tournament, but Luis Suarez stole the headlines for all the wrong reasons yet again.

The Liverpool forward appeared to bite the shoulder of Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini towards the end of Tuesday’s match in Natal.

Diego Godin subsequently bundled in a corner for the game’s only goal, sending Uruguay through to the last-16 at Italy’s expense.

Yet Suarez’s apparent indiscipline is likely to grab the headlines, with the 27-year-old having been involved in biting incidents before at both Liverpool and Ajax.

Italy, who needed only a point to qualify alongside Costa Rica, were hampered by the 59th-minute dismissal of Claudio Marchisio, for a high tackle on Egidio Arevalo.

They will now be left to rue another first-round exit at the World Cup, their second in succession, while Uruguay await the winner of Group C.

It remains to be seen whether Suarez will receive punishment for his apparent bite, with Fifa able to examine his tangle with Chiellini should they feel disciplinary action is warranted.

Prior to the late drama, Italy looked set to do enough to shut out their opponents as they soaked up pressure with relative comfort.

The match began with a host of full-blooded challenges, perhaps unsurprisingly given the prize at stake.

Mario Balotelli will have had Italy worried when he began to limp after a heavy challenge, while Suarez and Chiellini were also on the receiving end of physical collisions in a feisty opening.

The crowd had to wait until the 12th minute to see an effort on target, when Andrea Pirlo fired a dipping free-kick that Fernando Muslera needed to tip over, and the remainder of the opening half-hour passed by with little action of note.

Gianluigi Buffon was then called on to deny Suarez and Christian Lodeiro from close range following intricate build-up play, while Martin Caceres struck an audacious effort way wide from distance.

Cavani’s appeal for a penalty was waved away following a tangle with Leonardo Bonucci before Cristian Rodriguez wasted a golden opportunity for Uruguay.

Suarez clipped a ball in to the Atletico Madrid man, who skewed an effort wide when through on goal.

Marchisio was handed a straight red shortly after and Suarez was quick to test the 10 men of Italy – bursting through the defence only to be denied by Buffon.

If that showed the Liverpool man’s talent on the ball, his clash with Chiellini seemingly offered an insight into the less savoury side of Suarez’s will to win.

The Juve defender was eager to show referee Marco Rodriguez his shoulder and Italian tempers flared considerably after Godin headed in the winner.

Cesare Prandelli’s side were unable to find an equaliser and questions over the actions of Suarez appear set to dominate the aftermath of Italy’s elimination.

According to Goal

Roy Hodgson shuffled his pack for the final group stage clash, resulting in a tame encounter that saw the Central American nation advance as group winners

England ended their World Cup campaign with a dour 0-0 draw against Costa Rica, as Jorge Pinto’s side clinched top spot in Group D.

The tournament’s surprise package thrilled with skill and ambition in shock wins over Uruguay and Italy that secured their passage to the last 16.

The pre-tournament outsiders found themselves in the unexpected position of being able to leave plenty in the tank in Belo Horizonte – an admirable achievement that did not make for an engaging spectacle.

Celso Borges had a first-half free-kick touched against the crossbar, while the bulk of England’s chances fell to Daniel Sturridge – one of only two survivors from the line-up that lost the opening two matches.

The Liverpool striker found the prolific streak he displayed in the Premier League last season to have deserted him, and Roy Hodgson’s team could take little from the contest aside from avoiding the ignominy of losing all three World Cup round-robin games for the first time in their history.

Uruguay’s 1-0 win in a similarly scrappy encounter against Italy in Natal ensured that Group D claimed the scalps of two European teams.

Joel Campbell saw a speculative second-minute effort deflect wide and Costa Rica’s control of the opening exchanges underlined the gulf in confidence between the two teams.

The 12th minute brought England’s first sight of goal, with Sturridge whipping a shot narrowly wide of the target following bright build-up play by Jack Wilshere.

A 15th-minute Mexican wave rippling through the Estadio Mineirao said much for the lack of intensity in a game between one side already through to the round of 16 and another with their bags packed, before Sturridge tried his luck from distance once more.

Ben Foster was the first goalkeeper called into action when he superbly tipped Borges’ free-kick behind via his crossbar.

Sturridge had a 27th-minute penalty claim rejected, going to ground under close attention from Oscar Duarte, and another half-chance fell the striker’s way, but he could not keep his header down after Phil Jones nodded Ross Barkley’s corner back across goal.

Barkley fashioned space for himself in the 42nd minute, but his subsequent slice wide underscored a half desperately lacking in quality.

Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas was out to quickly to thwart Sturridge as Luke Shaw’s deflected 49th-minute shot looped into his path.

Shaw was fortunate not to join Adam Lallana and Barkley in the book amid a scrappy period as the hour approached, while Giancarlo Gonzalez was deservedly cautioned for scything through the latter.

Christian Bolanos looked to do something a touch more constructive when he stung Foster’s palms from 20 yards, while Sturridge exchanged passes with Wilshere and wasted his clearest opportunity of the match in the 65th minute.

A flurry of late substitutions did not increase the entertainment factor as Costa Rica looked forward to a knockout clash against the runner-up in Group C – where Ivory Coast, Greece and Japan all retain ambitions of following likely winners Colombia into the knockout stages later today.

For England, who belatedly extended Navas when substitute Wayne Rooney sent a delicate 80th-minute chip goalwards, a grimly familiar period of reflection and attempted renewal awaits.

According to Goal

Lionel Messi as he scored an injury-time winner to secure Argentina’s qualification from World Cup Group F and break the hearts of a dogged Iran.

Having inspired his side to victory following a below-par performance in their opening fixture against Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Barcelona man bent home a decisive goal in the dying embers of a match in which the hard-working Iranians did enough to take all three points themselves.

Both goalkeepers looked to be unbeatable as Sergio Aguero had Argentina’s best chance and Reza Ghoochannejhad came close on more than one occasion for the underdogs, who also saw a strong penalty claim turned down as they slipped to a 1-0 loss.

Jalal Hosseini could not connect with an early Iran free-kick into the Argentina box as Carlos Quieroz’s side looked to take an early shock lead and lump pressure on their high-profile opposition.

Gonzalo Higuain and Fernando Gago had come into the side following their second-half influence from the bench in the win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the duo combined to create the best chance for Alejandro Sabella’s team in the opening 15 minutes.

Gago played Higuain through on goal but saw his shot smothered by Alireza Haghighi, who showed quick reactions to race from his line.

Angel Di Maria was the next to try his luck but he could only bend an effort well over the crossbar, with Manchester City forward Aguero forcing an athletic save from Haghighi and Marcos Rojo heading wide as Argentina began to dominate proceedings.

With Iran only able to break free on rare occasions, Garay was the next to pass up a good opportunity as he only headed over from close range when under no pressure.

Having been left frustrated by a stubborn Iran in the opening 45 minutes, the second half started in a similar fashion for the South Americans, with Pablo Zabaleta curling a shot wide after being picked out by Messi.

Aguero could not make enough contact with a Rojo cross before Iran hit on the counter-attack and Ghoochannejhad’s headed attempt forced Sergio Romero into a low save.

Iran could have easily been awarded a penalty moments later as Zabaleta mis-timed his challenge on Ashkan Dejagah, with referee Milorad Mazic unmoved as the Fulham winger protested aggressively.

Those scares seemed to spring Argentina back into life, with Messi only able to send a shot wide of the post after some good work from the Barcelona man, but Iran maintained their new-found threat as Ehsan Hajsafi let loose from distance.

Romero then made the save of the game as he was at full stretch to turn Dejagah’s goalbound header over his crossbar.

The game was becoming increasingly stretched and Messi once again came close but could only hit the side netting from a close-range free-kick.

Sabella gambled with under 15 minutes remaining as he replaced Aguero and Higuain with fellow attackers Rodrigo Palacio and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Palacio saw a near-post header turned behind for a corner with Iran now pinned back in and around their own penalty area.

With just four minutes remaining, Iran dealt with another corner and Ghoochannejhad was played in behind the Argentina defence but the Charlton striker could not keep his shot away from Romero, who once again pushed his effort clear.

That missed proved to be costly as Messi took centre-stage, receiving the ball from Zabaleta and showing great composure to curl a shot perfectly out of the reach of Haghighi and into the corner of the net.

The goal means Argentina are guaranteed of a place in the knockout stages, while Iran remain on one point with just one group game remaining.

According to Foxsports