UEFA Euro 2016 Italy vs Ireland Preview: Teams Playing on 'Irreversibly Damaged' Pitch; Kickoff, TV Info, Live Streaming and Tickets
New Turf to Arrive on Friday
The UEFA Euro 2016 Group E match between Italy and Ireland on Wednesday night is set to be an exciting one as both teams will battle it out in a pitch that has been damaged by extreme weather conditions.
Damaged by Heavy Rains
It will be a crucial game as the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille has been "irreversibly damaged" following the Sunday match between Switzerland and France that ended in a draw. Players were observed losing their balance because of the slippery playing field caused by heavy rains.
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The retractable roof in the stadium was reportedly kept open despite the heavy downpour. The rainfall ended up damaging the stadium, which is set to be replaced this coming Friday.
"The extremely difficult weather conditions in the past few weeks (rain, humidity, lack of sunshine) have caused irreversible damage to the surface at the stadium," said UEFA in a statement.
Field Does 'Not Look Great'
For Wednesday's game, Ireland would need to work under these conditions to defeat Italy and continue their run in the tournament. Ireland's Stephen Ward said that they checked the field and it did not really look great. However, he claimed that both his team and the Italians would be challenged to play in this type of conditions.
Meanwhile, the two teams were not able to train in the stadium, leaving Italian coach Antonio Conte to question if the stadium was a suitable venue for upcoming Euro 2016 matches.
Teams Concerned About Playing Conditions
He explained that both teams expected to play in a different venue since the condition of Stade Pierre Mauroy has already been compromised. Conte also said that they did not want excuses for the lapses since they will be forced to play under these conditions.
Game to Push Through, New Turf Coming Friday
However, Wednesday's game may push through in this venue since a new turf from Netherlands is scheduled to be set up by Friday. UEFA noted that this playing surface will be in good condition until the tournament closes by the end of the month.
Where and How Can I Watch?
The kickoff of the game is at 9 p.m. Tickets for the match cost between $70 to $350. Fans who choose to stay at home can catch it via ITV. Live streaming will also be available through this link.
