(Continued from page 24)

• NATAL, Brazil (AP) -- Biting opponents, racist comments -- all that looked to be behind Luis Suarez, as soccer's bad boy was maturing into a star for his club and country. Then, the old habit that most people leave behind in nursery school cropped up again in front of an audience of millions.
• Faced with a smothering and frustrating Italian defense in a must-win World Cup game Tuesday, the Uruguayan superstar responded with his front teeth.
• It came at about the 80th minute when Suarez and Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini got tangled up in front of the Italy goal. The apparent chomp happened in an instant, but caught by television cameras, it became a worldwide sensation, and could lead to Suarez being kicked out of the World Cup.
• The referee didn't see a bite, and no foul was called despite Chiellini pleading and pulling down his jersey to show a red mark on his left shoulder.
• About a minute later, Uruguay scored the winning goal in a 1-0 game that sent Italy home.
• ___

• RECIFE, Brazil (AP) -- Tim Howard rarely makes it through a game without accepting multiple celebratory embraces from relieved American teammates.
• It happens almost every time the U.S. goalkeeper launches his solid, 6-foot-3 frame to make spectacular saves -- diving, leaping and even punching the ball away for difficult stops.
• There were a number of such moments Sunday night in a 2-2 tie against Portugal, and the Americans are counting on more of the same when they face three-time champion Germany on Thursday with a berth in the World Cup's knockout round at stake.
• The 35-year-old Howard will reach an impressive milestone in the process: The Group G finale will be his 103rd international appearance, passing Kasey Keller for the most by an American goalkeeper.
• Not that it's even on Howard's mind with the U.S. trying to reach the knockout stage of consecutive World Cups for the first time. The Americans were in position

(Continued on page 26)