HAMBURG: The newly laid field in the Hamburg stadium was off limits to the Netherlands and Poland on Saturday, one day before their opening game at the European Championship.
A new grass surface was ordered at Volksparkstadion after host club Hamburger completed their home fixtures on May 19 in the Bundesliga second tier.
Four weeks later, UEFA wanted to protect it from the teams’ traditional eve-of-game practice before the stadium hosts its first game at Euro 2024. Hamburg is due to stage five games including one quarterfinal.
“We are not allowed to train here either, because of the bad quality of the pitch,” Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said at the venue where the teams kick off on Sunday at 3 p.m. local time (1300 GMT).
UEFA insisted in a statement the surface “is in good condition and in order to preserve its quality the official (training) will take place at the respective team base camp.”
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk suggested the field was similar to the one in Frankfurt where the Oranje lost to Germany 2-1 in a March friendly.
“It’s not very good but both teams have to face it,” said Van Dijk, a couple of hours after Poland captain Piotr Zieliński suggested, “It doesn’t look that bad.”
UEFA seeks to give national teams the best possible playing surfaces at its showpiece tournament and often installs new fields at stadiums and training camps. It has replacements on standby if an entire playing field needs to be relaid during the monthlong tournament.
Switzerland made a formal complaint to UEFA this week about the training camp surface it was given near Stuttgart, though on Saturday it did not seem to have harmed the team’s preparation. The slick Swiss beat Hungary 3-1 in their opening game.
Netherlands and Poland denied training on new Hamburg stadium field ahead of Euro 2024 game
https://arab.news/4yhbg
Netherlands and Poland denied training on new Hamburg stadium field ahead of Euro 2024 game
- “We are not allowed to train here either, because of the bad quality of the pitch,” Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said
- UEFA insisted in a statement the surface “is in good condition and in order to preserve its quality the official (training) will take place at the respective team base camp”
Cherki pulls out Haaland celebrations after wonder goal in Man City’s win in the English League Cup
- The France playmaker pulled out some robot moves and then sat down cross-legged in a yoga pose
- Savinho added a second goal for City in the 67th minute
MANCHESTER: Rayan Cherki recreated teammate Erling Haaland’s goal celebrations after curling an exquisite shot into the top corner in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Brentford in the English League Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The France playmaker pulled out some robot moves and then sat down cross-legged in a yoga pose after giving a much-changed City team a 32nd-minute lead.
With his tricks, skills and wonderful technique, Cherki is already proving a fans’ favorite in his first season in Manchester after moving from Lyon.
In a win over Sunderland this month, he produced a “rabona” cross that was headed in by Phil Foden but left City manager Pep Guardiola urging Cherki to play with “simplicity” like Lionel Messi.
The goal against Brentford was one Messi would have been proud of. Collecting a headed clearance at the edge of the box, Cherki deceived an opponent by switching the ball to his right foot and then whipped a shot into the top corner.
Savinho added a second goal for City in the 67th minute with a shot that was aided by a huge deflection that looped over Brentford goalkeeper Hákon Valdimarsson.
Haaland was named as a substitute for the game, didn’t come on, and was seen shaking the hand of Cherki when the midfielder was replaced in the second half.
City joined Chelsea, which beat third-tier Cardiff City 3-1 on Tuesday, in the semifinals.
Defending champion Newcastle were playing Fulham in a later kickoff on Wednesday. The quarterfinals are wrapped up next week when Arsenal host Crystal Palace.
