The turf on Frankfurt was chopping up from the moment the Euro 2024 encounter between England and Denmark got under way
(Image credit: Future)
The state of the pitch during England's Euro 2024 Group C clash with Denmark did not go unnoticed as the two sides had to play in boggy conditions in Frankfurt.
The surface at the Walstadion, home to 2022 Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt, could be seen chopping up from the moment the Euro 2024 encounter kicked off - despite the retractable roof of the stadium being closed after a rainy weather forecast.
The BBC commentary team made note of the state of the pitch in the opening few minutes of the game, and fans and journalists observing the game were quick to take to social media to offer their own comical and/or scathing comparisons.
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Euro 2024 viewers react to Denmark vs England pitch
Jude Bellingham and Andreas Christensen… on a rough Frankfurt surface (Image credit: Getty Images)
Journalist Daniel Storey wrote: "Pitch is cutting up badly here. Twice Kyle Walker has got his studs caught in it and possibly lucky not to twist something." He later added: "Labouring the point maybe, but it'll be very lucky if someone's ankle doesn't go here with the studs sticking in the pitch. Seems genuinely unsafe."
Kaan Hughes said: "This pitch England are playing on is a disgrace. How can you have it cutting up this quickly. You’d think a race at Royal Ascot had been transferred here and some horses had raced round on it after a week of rain!"
Several others meanwhile drew comparisons with the boggy fields of a music festival
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The pitch for England vs Denmark #EURo2024 pic.twitter.com/Xnpt2gYjD4June 20, 2024
England started their Euro 2024 campaign with a victory over bottom seeds Serbia, with Jude Bellingham’s header proving enough to deliver the three points, and Gareth Southgate stuck with the same starting line-up for their Group C clash against Denmark.
The Danes will meanwhile have been disappointed with the result of their opening game, a 1-1 draw against Slovenia, putting them under some pressure to get something against England before rounding off the group stage against Serbia.
Harry Kane put England ahead after 18 minutes, however, with Kyle Walker turning on the jet engines to beat a lackadaisical Victor Kristiansen to a loose ball before his cutback was deflected into the striker's path to finish off.
Morten Hjulmand drew Denmark level 16 minutes later, however, with his low strike from 25 yards curling away from Jordan Pickford's reach and going in off the inside of the post.
Steven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication, WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.
