Argentina supervisor Lionel Scaloni expressed his unhappiness with the pitch at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium after his workforce’s 2-0 win over Canada within the Copa América opener on Thursday, saying it was unsuitable for this stage of competitors.
The venue, which hosts matches for Main League Soccer’s Atlanta United and the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, normally has a man-made pitch however a short lived grass floor was put in forward of the event opener.
Argentina lacked their common fluidity within the first half and regarded susceptible at instances, very similar to their 2022 World Cup opener in Qatar the place they have been shocked 2-1 by Saudi Arabia.
“The beginning regarded just like the match with Saudi Arabia, with the distinction that we performed on a extra first rate pitch that point,” Scaloni advised reporters.
“With all due respect, thank goodness we gained. In any other case, it could have been an affordable excuse. Now we have recognized for seven months that we’re going to play right here and so they modified the turf two days in the past.
“It’s not good for the present. It’s not an excuse, the stadium is gorgeous and with artificial turf it have to be spectacular, however with right now’s turf it isn’t appropriate for this type of gamers.”
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez echoed his supervisor’s sentiments, telling TyC Sports activities: “Coming right here towards a powerful Canada, with good forwards and on a area that could be a catastrophe made it slightly tough for us.
“Now we have to enhance in that facet. In any other case, the Copa América will all the time be at a decrease stage than the European Championship.”
Canada captain Alphonso Davies was not content material together with his aspect’s show towards the World Cup champions.
“Now we have to vary our perspective in the direction of the sport,” he advised Canadian broadcaster TSN.
“The primary half we performed properly, however within the second half we let each lengthy ball bounce. It was a disappointing end result, we have to have a look at every little thing we did improper within the sport and repair it as quickly as potential.”