France and Norway have three things in common at this World Cup.
A perfect record in Group I, two in-form strikers and an agreement that the pitch at the stadium hosting the World Cup final isn’t up to standard.
Norway and Senegal were the latest teams to play on the surface in East Rutherford, N.J., with the Scandinavians earning a 3-2 victory on Monday night.
The day before the match, Norway’s delegation said the field at the 80,000-plus capacity stadium was unusually hard.
They weren’t necessarily complaining. Because Norway’s frigid climate, the majority of its top-flight clubs play on synthetic surfaces. They actually thought that might make them feel at home in northern New Jersey.
“It looks a bit like artificial grass,” defensive midfielder Morten Thorsby said at a press conference, as reported by Norwegian outlet VG. “It’s short and it’s hard. It could suit us well, because many of us have played on artificial grass.”
Manager Stale Solbakken agreed.
“The pitch is unlike many others. It is rock hard, and almost no grass. It is almost like an artificial turf pitch, but we have to deal with that,” he said, as reported by VG.
Down the road in Philadelphia on Sunday, French manager Didier Deschamps looked forward to the rain that would fall during his team’s second match at the home of the NFL’s Eagles.
“If there is some rain, well, good, we will save some water,” Deschamps quipped, through an interpreter. “And the grass will be faster. And the quality will be better, much better than the one in New York.
“In New York, the pitch was tough, mainly when it comes to the muscular fatigue.”
Deschamps’ French side ultimately received too much of a good thing in their 3-0 win over Iraq, with torrential rain and severe weather delaying the start of the second half by nearly two hours.
Even so, the surface noticeably was greener than in New Jersey, where there already were visible hints of wear when France played there.
In a statement, FIFA suggested appearance did not mean the pitch was substandard.
“While there have been comments regarding the visual appearance of certain areas of the playing surface at NYNJ Stadium, FIFA’s Turf Management Team’s assessment is that every pitch is healthy and performing as intended for elite competition,” FIFA said. “Variations in the appearance of some surfaces, whether on television or in person, do not necessarily reflect the quality, health or playability of the pitch.”
France and Norway contested the second and third of eight matches scheduled at the venue over the 39-day event. Groundskeeping staff will have an extended two-week window to prepare the surface for the final after hosting its penultimate match, a quarterfinal scheduled for July 5.
FIFA took control of natural pitch installation at all 16 World Cup venues across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The surface in East Rutherford was installed in early May.
–Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media
