Del Bosque: Kaunas pitch unfit
Reuters - Monday 28 March 2011, 13:41
MADRID - The pitch at the Darius and
Girenas stadium in Kaunas is not fit to stage Tuesday's Euro
2012 qualifier between Lithuania and world champions Spain,
Spanish coach Vicente Del Bosque said.
"It isn't good for us or for them. The pitch isn't for
playing on, it's not in condition," Del Bosque told a news
conference in Kaunas on Monday.
The playing surface has barely any grass on it after a harsh
winter, although a friendly between Lithuania and Poland was
played on it on Friday. A final decision as to whether the
Lithuania-Spain game can go ahead will be made on Tuesday.
Del Bosque said it would be difficult to find another date
for the fixture.
"There is one problem, that the pitch is bad," he added. "We
are in good condition to play it. We would like to play and to
have everything settled until September, but if the pitch isn't
good the ideal situation would be not to play.
"It's not the Lithuanian federation's fault. They have had a
hard winter, and the playing surface has deteriorated as a
result, not because of the federation's negligence."
If the match goes ahead, a muddy pitch without much grass
would possibly force Group I leaders Spain to move away from
their trademark possession and quick-passing game.
"We aren't going to completely change our style of play,"
Del Bosque said. "But if we can't play it short we'll play it
long looking for the knock downs. We have the players to do it.
We will adapt to the situation."
Spain have won four out of four games to top the group with
12 points, ahead of fourth-placed Lithuania who have four points
from three games.