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Uruguay striker vows to show a "new Luis"

Xinhua, March 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Uruguay soccer team will have a "new Luis", forward Luis Suarez announced on Tuesday, just three days before he will play his first match for the national squad in 21 months.

The player has been absent from the squad due to a ban sanctioned by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) for biting an opponent at the World Cup 2014 in Brazil.

"I will continue with the same attitude on the ground, because that is the way I play. However, it will be with moderation, like you have seen me play recently," Suarez said.

"I have to be more intelligent in many ways. I have to do things better and enjoy my return to the national team and the people's kindness," Suarez added.

Suarez will make his eagerly awaited return to the national team in the World Cup 2018 Russia South American qualifier away to Brazil on Friday.

The match will be special "because of all the time that has passed. However I feel like a player once again," said Suarez.

The Barcelona forward added that he has been mentally preparing for his return to national soccer for some time and he aims "to control his nerves and anxiety so that he can make the fans happy".

"I am more than happy to be here again (in Uruguay) hanging out with my teammates," said Suarez who joined the training sessions on Monday in the Uruguay Celeste sports complex.

About the match against Brazil on Friday, the forward said the team must not get complacent because Brazil will be the home team and they have a very high class of players.

"However, they also have weaknesses in defence which we will try to take advantage of. We have a powerful defence that we always show," added Suarez.

Uruguay will visit Brazil, in Recife, on Friday and then will receive Peru in Montevideo on March 29 for the fifth and sixth matches of the World Cup qualifying tournament. Endi