Matuidi's foul worse than Suarez's bite says Maradona

Argentina legend, Diego Maradona, has described as "criminal" Blaise Matuidi's tackle challenge on Nigerian midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi in Monday's round of 16 clash at the Fifa World Cup between France and Nigeria in Brasilia.

Maradona, working a pundit for the World Cup with Venezuelan television, Telesur TV, hit out at the American referee, Mark Geiger, for not considering Matuidi's "tackle as a criminal act."

He went on to state that the Frenchman's challenge on Onazi is worse than Luis Suarez's bite on Italian defender, Giorgio Chiellini.

"It is impossible that the referee did not see the tackle as a criminal act. It is even worse than what Suarez has done [to Chiellini]," Maradona said during the Venezuelan television show.

World cup ‘bite’ incident: Suárez could be banned for up to 24 matches under Fifa code

            Italy's Giorgio Chiellini shows his shoulder,
claiming he was bitten by Uruguay's
Luis Suarez in their World Cup match

Luis Suárez wrote his name into World Cup infamy by biting the Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini towards the end of a dramatic Uruguay win to risk another lengthy suspension of anything up to 24 matches.

Uruguay looked to be heading for the exit in the 79th minute with the game locked at 0-0 – the South Americans needed victory – when Suárez tussled with Chiellini as they chased a ball inside the Italy penalty area. The Liverpool striker leaned his forehead into Chiellini, in what looked, initially, to be a butt before biting down on his opponent’s shoulder. 

Suárez flung himself to the ground and, moments later, he could be seen holding his teeth.

World Cup: Costa Rica advances with win over Italy, knocks England out

Switzerland 2 (Dzemaili 81′ Xhaka 86') France 5 (Giroud 17' Matuidi 18', Valbuena 40', Benzema 66', Sissoko 72') - FT
France lay down their World Cup credentials with an impressive victory
Switzerland get two stunning late consolation goals from Dzemaili and Xhaka
Italy 0 Costa Rica 1 (Ruiz) FT

Costa Rica continued its startling run through the World Cup Friday defeating heavy favourites Italy 1-0 in Recife. The win assures Costa Rica of a trip to the second round. It also took away any chance England had of advancing. Italy needed to beat both Costa Rica and Uruguay for England to have a chance to advance.

Now Italy will be forced to play for its own life. They take on Uruguay in their final group match. Both have three points but because of a better goal differential Italy only have to tie Uruguay.

The way the Italians played against Costa Rica, that’s hardly a given. While Italy was dreadful, full marks for Costa Rica. They’ve spent days listening to how their 3-1 win over Uruguay was a fluke.