USMNT star Weston McKennie slams lack of atmosphere and agrees with Argentina’s Copa America pitch complaint
USMNT star Weston McKennie has joined those critical of the playing conditions at Copa America.
The tournament kicked off on Thursday when Lionel Messi’s Argentina beat Canada 2-0 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
However, while they may have won the game, head coach Lionel Scaloni and Co. were less than thrilled.
“With all due respect, thank goodness we won, because otherwise, it would have sounded like a cheap excuse to sit here and say this,” Scaloni said of the new field in Atlanta, via BeinSports.
Scaloni criticized organizers for not changing the turf sooner, claiming, ” It’s not good for the spectacle. Sorry.”
“The stadium is beautiful, and with the synthetic turf, it must be spectacular, but today’s pitch was not suitable for these types of players.”
Moreover, Scaloni even said his side had to adjust their tactics because of the conditions of the field.
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez also slammed the field, which he labeled “a disaster” and “very bumpy,” via ESPN.
“We must improve in this aspect; otherwise, Copa America will always appear at a lower level than the European Championship.”
Things have since gotten worse for the tournament’s organizers after McKennie added to the growing critiques of the field conditions on offer.
“I think what Martinez was saying was completely true,” he said, as per The Athletic.
If this wasn’t bad enough, the Juventus midfielder also called out the poor atmosphere at games.
“It’s frustrating, especially as a player,” McKennie said.
“You know, whenever you do come here to America you play in a stadium that can fit 70,000 people but 25,000 show up.
“You don’t really have an atmosphere.
“And then you’re playing on a football field, with laid grass that’s all patchy and it breaks up every step you take. It’s frustrating.”
The grass in question was recently laid over the existing synthetic turf, according to NBC Sports.
McKennie followed in Martinez’s footsteps when he too compared their playing conditions to those in Europe when speaking with The Athletic.
USMNT's Copa America schedule
Group C
Sun 23 June, 6pm ET – vs. Bolivia (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas)
Thur 27 June, 6pm ET – vs. Panama (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia)
Mon 1 July, 9pm ET – vs. Uruguay (Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri)
He noted how at the aforementioned Euros “they’re all playing on great fields, great grass, football-specific stadiums, soccer-specific stadiums, and you see the quality of the football.”
The USMNT has yet to kick off their tournament, with their first game scheduled for Sunday at 6pm ET when they take on Bolivia.
It remains to be seen if/how McKennie’s concerns surrounding the atmosphere prove accurate.
As of Saturday afternoon, plentiful tickets remain available starting at just $85.
They will be playing at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, where grass has also been laid for the event.
This won’t be the first game held at the home of the Dallas Cowboys this week though, with Chile and Peru having already played out a 0-0 draw there on Friday.
Action will return to Atlanta when the USMNT takes on Panama on June 27.