CORNERFLICK
The pitch at MetLife Stadium has come under heavy criticism ahead of the World Cup final, with reports describing the surface as dry, slow and uneven for a match of this scale.
According to the source material, the ball was bouncing unpredictably and players struggled to get proper control after their first touch. A member of Spain’s bench was even seen trying to direct sprinkler water towards the edge of the field so those areas could get wet.
Heavy rain in New Jersey on the previous day did little to improve the surface. As soon as the protective coverings were removed before the opening ceremony, the quality of the grass was already regarded as a concern.
The half-time interval also became part of the issue. FIFA had reportedly told Spain and Argentina to expect a 17-minute break, but a pre-planned show ran for more than 20 minutes instead. By the time the programme ended, 21 minutes had passed since the players went back to the dressing rooms, and the sprinklers were then used at low pressure for only about five minutes.