Curitiba, Brazil: Spain are worried that poor pitch conditions in Brazil could hurt their playing style as they bid to defend their World Cup title.
Spain often preach the importance of a well-maintained playing surface for their quick-passing, possession-based game, which it was said let them down in an opening 1-1 draw against Italy at Euro 2012.
The campaign to ensure that playing surfaces are up to scratch in Brazil has already begun.
Striker Diego Costa said “the field has to be wet and well-groomed” for Friday’s opener against the Netherlands at Salvador’s Arena Fonte Nova.
That is looking like a tall order at some venues.
Italy and England play on Saturday at the Arena da Amazonia in Manaus, where the pitch is dry with white stripes visible.
“For the moment all we know is that the pitch is brown,” Italian football federation vice-president Demetrio Albertini said.
The grass being used at World Cup venues combines a mix of European and South American seeds — with the latter known for slowing the ball.
European “ray grass” grows vertically to provide a polished surface, while South American seeds grow coarser grass blades that also emerge horizontally.
“In a country this big with such a variety of climates, it’s difficult to maintain a certain standard,” said Carlos Botella, a groundsman for Spanish company Royal Verd, which is managing seven of the 12 pitches, including at Salvador.
“Luckily for the World Cup we have mixed the two seeds so that the blades remain strong to maintain resistance while also ensuring the ball moves quickly.”
Royal Verd also maintains the pitch at Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium, so Botella knows just what type of surface Spain’s players enjoy most as their style of play bears a close resemblance to Barcelona’s.
But Botella said Fifa’s rules were clear, and that the grass length was set between 18 and 22 centimetres and that watering the field was not up to the teams, but to the Fifa general coordinator.
So Spain, shouldn’t worry — or get too used to the Atletico Paranaense training ground in the southeastern city of Curitiba where the squad has been preparing.
“The field was good, it was short and fast, great for quick touches, which is what we like,” Spain midfielder Koke said on Wednesday of Spain’s training facility. “That’s important so that the ball rolls quickly.”
