While France and Switzerland largely got what they wanted with a 0-0 draw on Sunday, it was a night of shame for ground staff and sports goods manufacturers.
Four Swiss players had to change ripped shirts, the Adidas match ball, sold outside for €140, burst and a cut-up pitch at the Stade Pierre Mauroy that had to be patched up by groundsmen at half-time, sent players sliding.
The Lille pitch, beneath a retractable roof, still has to host an Italy vs Ireland clash on Wednesday, a last-16 fixture and a quarterfinal.
“It was better in Marseille but it was annoying. I don’t know who is responsible. We’re only in the group stage and having a pitch in that state already is not a good thing,” said France coach Didier Deschamps.
Switzerland counterpart Vladimir Petkovic said the pitch had definitely affected the quality of the game.
“I really hope they’re able to dry the pitch because it doesn’t hold up well, but it was the same for both sides so we can’t complain,” he said.
Less critical Petkovic was less critical of his side’s Puma-made shirts. “If a shirt is pulled occasionally they can come apart at the seams. There were four and maybe a fifth one at the end. If you pull shirts they do break,” he said.
Goalkeeper and Man-of-the-Match Yann Sommer, whose shirt was not ripped, said the kit damage was more down to the nature of the match.
“It can happen. It means it was a fight on the pitch, with lots of duels. A jersey can fail. Of course today we had a lot. I can’t say we have to change because Puma is great,” he concluded.
