Kovač Criticizes Field Conditions and Heat at Club World Cup
Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovač expressed his dissatisfaction with the field conditions and the heat during the Club World Cup in the United States.
Kovač considered that the MetLife stadium’s grass was more appropriate for playing golf than for a high-level football match.
It’s more of a golf course, you could make a putt here. It’s very short. But this is not the grass we are used to playing on in the Bundesliga and also in the other two stadiums.
Niko Kovač
Dortmund played its inaugural match at MetLife, home of the Club World Cup semi-finals and final, and next year’s World Cup final. The German team played two matches at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati and its round of 16 match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Furthermore, Kovač criticized the watering of the field. “As you saw, the watering wasn’t good enough, I would say, because they don’t have the devices for that. When it’s too dry, it’s incredible. It sticks.”In a sunny afternoon, the temperature at the start of the match at 3 p.m. was 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Similar or higher temperatures are expected for next year’s World Cup, where 11 venues are in the United States, and most do not have a roof or air conditioning.
During the 1994 World Cup, 28 of the 52 matches had start times between 12 noon and 2 p.m. EDT, which was better for European viewing. The start times for next year’s 104-match tournament will likely be set after the draw in December.
“We played twice in Cincinnati. The first time was at 12 o’clock. The second time was at 3 p.m. and on the field we had temperatures of around 45 degrees (113 degrees Fahrenheit),” said Kovač, who has lamented the warm weather throughout the Club World Cup. “When the temperature is 45 degrees, this is not incredible. This is very difficult for someone, and the players, must play these matches.
“Today we had 35 degrees (95 degrees Fahrenheit). To be honest, it’s not much better either. But, OK, this is a tournament we need to play. And I would suggest, my suggestion, that the start time be a little later… So the intensity is also much greater. And as a fan, as a spectator, you’d like to see intense, aggressive, end-to-end football. So when it’s too hot, then it’s difficult to play this type of football.”
