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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — The reputation of the playing surface at MetLife Stadium has gone international.
As they surged past Senegal with a 3-1 victory on Tuesday, June 16, France’s players did not compete with studs in their cleats despite natural grass replacing the much-maligned artificial turf at the venue, rebranded to “New York New Jersey” stadium for the World Cup due to FIFA licensing rules, according to head coach Didier Deschamps.
Deschamps was asked in English and responded in his native French. What was not lost in translation was the awkwardness of the fact that FIFA installed grass for the World Cup in 11 NFL stadiums that traditionally use artificial turf.
“Good question," Deschamps began, "but I’m not sure I’ll answer it.”
To Deschamps’ credit, he continued.
“It’s a special surface. It’s different. You need to get used to this, I guess,” Deschamps said. “I think that might be cement below the grass.”
Deschamps noted that the imported grass at MetLife currently is short. French players who have participated in matches at MetLife previously said it felt similar to past occasions, they told him.
“If the grass is moist or not it’s also different,” said Deschamps, who won the World Cup with France as a player in 1998 and as a coach in 2018. “But we do adjust. I’ve seen this before – if you don’t’ have good depth of earth beneath the grass it could be harder to play on.
“It is a little different. It does hit different.”
The NFL Players’ Association has criticized the league and owners of teams who have artificial turf fields. A poll of 1,700 players said 92% preferred playing on grass compared to turf.
Grass is traditionally more forgiving than turf. And MetLife’s playing surface is far and away the least favored among NFL players. Many stars have lost seasons due to injuries suffered here in recent years, from Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles tear four plays into his New York Jets tenure to Malik Nabers of the New York Giants last season to Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Cup grass vs. turf debate has French input after MetLife win
Continue reading...
As they surged past Senegal with a 3-1 victory on Tuesday, June 16, France’s players did not compete with studs in their cleats despite natural grass replacing the much-maligned artificial turf at the venue, rebranded to “New York New Jersey” stadium for the World Cup due to FIFA licensing rules, according to head coach Didier Deschamps.
Deschamps was asked in English and responded in his native French. What was not lost in translation was the awkwardness of the fact that FIFA installed grass for the World Cup in 11 NFL stadiums that traditionally use artificial turf.
“Good question," Deschamps began, "but I’m not sure I’ll answer it.”
To Deschamps’ credit, he continued.
“It’s a special surface. It’s different. You need to get used to this, I guess,” Deschamps said. “I think that might be cement below the grass.”
Deschamps noted that the imported grass at MetLife currently is short. French players who have participated in matches at MetLife previously said it felt similar to past occasions, they told him.
“If the grass is moist or not it’s also different,” said Deschamps, who won the World Cup with France as a player in 1998 and as a coach in 2018. “But we do adjust. I’ve seen this before – if you don’t’ have good depth of earth beneath the grass it could be harder to play on.
“It is a little different. It does hit different.”
The NFL Players’ Association has criticized the league and owners of teams who have artificial turf fields. A poll of 1,700 players said 92% preferred playing on grass compared to turf.
Grass is traditionally more forgiving than turf. And MetLife’s playing surface is far and away the least favored among NFL players. Many stars have lost seasons due to injuries suffered here in recent years, from Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles tear four plays into his New York Jets tenure to Malik Nabers of the New York Giants last season to Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Cup grass vs. turf debate has French input after MetLife win
Continue reading...
