Niko Kovač criticized the MetLife Stadium field, comparing it to a golf green and noting it was unsuitable for high-level soccer. He raised concerns over the field's shortness and inadequate watering. The temperature during the match was 86 degrees Fahrenheit, deemed inappropriate for players. Kovač highlighted previous experiences in Cincinnati, where temperatures reached 113 degrees Fahrenheit, making conditions very challenging. Similar conditions are expected for next year's World Cup, raising questions about player safety and performance during games without air-conditioning or roofed venues.
"It's more a golf green, so you can putt here," Kovač said after Saturday's 3-2 quarterfinal loss to Real Madrid. "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."
"As you saw, the watering wasn't good enough, I would say, because you don't have the devices for that. When it's too dry, it's unbelievable. It's sticking."
Kovač, who has lamented the warm weather throughout the Club World Cup, said, "When the temperature is 45 degrees, this is not amazing. This is very hard for someone, and the players, they must play these games."
"Today, we had 35 degrees (95 degrees Fahrenheit). It's also not much better, to be honest."
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