As Argentina and Spain prepare to battle it out in the FIFA World Cup in East Rutherford on Sunday, one key player has been under a lot of scrutiny – the pitch.The mixed grass at the New York New Jersey Stadium has brought mixed reactions to the competition, with players and coaches offering differing opinions after seven World Cup matches have been held at the venue. Some described it as too fast, hard and inconsistent, while others felt that the rain turned it into one of the better games. Neither Argentina nor Spain have played at the stadium during this World Cup, adding to the appeal of the finals where the stadium will affect skill and style.With the forecast for rain on Saturday ahead of the heat on game day, the playing field remains one of the most uncertain things to come in football’s biggest competition.
Fast, durable and unpredictable: The players’ experience
One recurring theme from players and coaches was the speed of the hybrid turf.England coach Thomas Tuchel described it as “very quick” and compared it to artificial sand because of its short grass.“It’s a very fast game,” Tuchel said after England’s match against Panama. “It’s too short … too tight … too tight and too fast but good, played, and no one complained.”Brazil star Vinicius Junior, however, did not impress against Morocco.“The garden is useless,” he said.France midfielder Adrien Rabiot echoed the concerns, saying the format was too tight and static compared to European pitches, while coach Didier Deschamps admitted it was difficult.Deschamps said the performance was “special” and said he “took a lot out of the players.”When France came back later, Rabiot admitted things went well, with the grass looking taller.
Rain could be the key on Sunday
If one lesson came out of the seven games played at the venue, it’s that the rain made a huge difference to the pitch.Norway coach Ståle Solbakken gave a very detailed explanation after his team played against Senegal in torrential rain.“The game was better because of the rain,” Solbakken said. “The rain kept the ball off your foot. You’re moving faster, better.”He admitted that he is more sensitive to dry weather than wet weather, saying that short grass is more difficult when there is a lack of moisture.This fact can be very important.Heavy rain is expected to drench the stadium on Saturday before the final clear on Sunday. If enough moisture remains at the surface, players can experience faster and smoother speeds than their competitors during dry conditions.
FIFA is confident after weeks of preparation
According to the AP report, FIFA insists that the playing field was carefully managed throughout the tournament.The hybrid pitch, which was launched at the beginning of May using natural grass reinforced with synthetic fibers, went through more than five years of research and testing before the World Cup. Throughout the competition, officials monitor the amount of moisture, intensity and play, adjusting the irrigation system after seeing how the soil works in the rainy season.The governing body also deliberately left a 13-day gap between the last game at the venue and the final, allowing time on the field to recover before football’s biggest event.Whether the final stage resembles the fast, dry terrain that some players protested or the slippery, rain-aided terrain that Solbakken praised will depend on the weather over the next 24 hours.For two armed teams like Argentina and Spain, this subtle difference can have a big impact on the outcome of the World Cup final.
