Ian Wright voiced strong criticism regarding the pitch at the World Cup final, which saw a goalless first half between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
“It’s absurd, poor, and unacceptable,” Wright expressed on ITV, noting that the playing surface was “bobbly and dry.”
The quality of the field has sparked discussion throughout the World Cup, drawing complaints from various players and coaches.
Argentina and Spain ended the first half without scoring in New Jersey (Getty)
The pitch, which is natural grass laid over an artificial base, has shown signs of dryness and patchiness during the tournament.
Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr remarked after the 1-1 draw with Morocco that “the weather and heat cause the grass to dry out quickly, making the game very slow.”
He added: “We can’t build up a rhythm, which complicates things because we want to transition the ball effectively.”
France’s coach Didier Deschamps also addressed the condition of the pitch, stating: “The field in New York was very tough – it strained the players’ muscles.”
He suggested that should it rain before their next match in Philadelphia, it would improve the pace and quality of the grass compared to what they experienced in New York.
MetLife Stadium, primarily home to the NFL’s New York Giants, has faced scrutiny for its pitch, unlike other NFL venues like Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium and Dallas’ AT&T Stadium, which have not encountered the same issues.
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It’s worth noting that the latter two venues have retractable roofs, thus protecting their grass from the harsh summer conditions of North America.
The first half of the final was primarily controlled by Spain, while Argentina, the reigning champions, struggled to get a shot on target.
Adding to the surface’s challenges, the extended pre-game and half-time festivities took place on the pitch, further impacting its condition.
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The half-time interval at the World Cup final stretched to 27 minutes and 19 seconds due to the ‘Super Bowl style’ entertainment, causing a significant delay in the match’s continuation.
Fifa had promised both teams that the half-time performance, crafted by Coldplay’s Chris Martin and featuring artists such as Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber, and Burna Boy, would only last 11 minutes. They estimated the entire break would last about 20 minutes, considering the time required for assembling and disassembling the stage.
However, reality proved otherwise, leading Fifa to exceed their own protocols. The lavish half-time show also included appearances from Brazilian legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, as well as Jason Sudeikis from *Ted Lasso*, and iconic characters like Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. Former England captain Wayne Rooney criticized the event, calling it “rubbish.”
According to regulations set by Ifab (the International Football Association Board), half-time breaks should not exceed 15 minutes. The interval between referee Slavko Vincic’s whistle to end the first half and the second half’s start was over 27 minutes.
Ultimately, it was super sub Ferran Torres who secured Spain’s second men’s World Cup title as Argentina, featuring Lionel Messi in what appears to be his final World Cup appearance, fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat in extra time.
What was anticipated to be an exciting showdown between the South American and European champions devolved into a one-sided clash, with Argentina showing resilience but little else.
Argentina failed to create any serious threats during regulation time, managing no shots on goal, while goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez worked diligently to keep Spain at bay, even thwarting a crucial free-kick from teenager Lamine Yamal.
Discipline issues plagued Argentina as they lost Enzo Fernandez to a second yellow card just before extra time, while Lionel Scaloni’s team struggled against the composed, skillful Spanish side under Luis de la Fuente’s guidance.
Spain relentlessly pursued the goal until substitute Torres finally scored early in the second period of extra time. Argentina, now a shadow of the team that defeated England in the semi-finals, could not muster a response.
As the final whistle blew, emotions ran high, leading to frayed tempers and marking what may be the end of 39-year-old Messi’s illustrious World Cup career.