SAO PAULO: Managers and players have complained about the state of pitches used in the World Cup with the grass at several stadiums, and particularly the ones that were delivered just weeks ahead of the kick off, coming under criticism as not fitting for such an important tournament.
FIFA have prevented some teams from training on the match surface ahead of their games and managers of Chile and Bosnia, as well as players with Belgium and Ghana, are among those who’ve complained the turf is threadbare or cuts up easily.
“It was a very bad pitch, terrible weather,” Bosnia manager Safet Susic said of the Pantanal arena in Cuiaba after his side lost 1-0 to Nigeria on Saturday. “Bad pitch, humid. A very good opponent. This is why we lost.”
“I don’t want to find excuses in the condition of the pitch,” Susic added. “We are technically a skillful team and we can offer more on a good pitch. But the pitch was the same for us and Nigeria and it was an impediment to score more goals.”
A few days later, Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni said of the same ground: “If you are seeking perfection, then probably this pitch is far from it.”
The state of the surface in Cuiaba could be related to its late delivery. It was one of three stadiums finished months behind schedule, meaning the turf was laid late.
Brazil opted to use 12 venues in this year’s World Cup, with six of them ready a year in advance and used for the Confederations Cup test event last June. The other six were supposed to be ready in December but some were delivered as late as May. REUTERS
