Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk and Man Utd flop Weghorst blast ‘worst pitch ever’ as they near Euro 2024 qualification
NETHERLANDS stars Virgil van Dijk and Wout Weghorst lashed out after beating Greece to clear the way for Euro 2024 qualification.
The Oranje beat the Greeks 1-0 at OPAP Arena in Athens and Ronald Koeman’s side now need to beat either the Republic of Ireland or Gibraltar to confirm their place in the finals in Germany.
But after the game, Liverpool star Van Dijk – who scored the winner from the penalty spot – was fuming with the state of the pitch.
The centre-back lambasted the “terrible” state of AEK Athens’ ground and suggested that shouldn’t be allowed “at this level”.
Van Dijk said: “Have you seen the pitch? Terrible. It’s unbelievable that this is still allowed at this level.”
Hoffenheim star Weghorst took it up a notch by claiming that was the “worst pitch” he has ever played on.
The Burnley loanee, who had an unsuccessful stint at Manchester United last season, even claimed there were stones on the grass.
Weghorst said: “This was the worst pitch I have ever played football on.
“We knew it wouldn’t be an easy game here, given the conditions and the way the opposition played. The pressure was there.
“Not so much from the crowd, but mainly from the pitch which was very bad. There were stones on it. The conditions were difficult.”
The manager of Grassform Antonis Grimotsis, who supervises football pitches in the Greek Superleague, addressed Van Dijk and Weghorst’s claims.
Grimotsis stated that the turf at OPAP Arena is being reseeded, which is annual procedure that takes place when the season is paused and UEFA as well as the two teams were fully aware.
He posted on Facebook: “The pitch at OPAP Arena is in the process of being reseeded, of which the organising authority, the Dutch national team and of course the Greek national team are aware.
“It is a regular, annual procedure that takes place at the break of the championship, it’s just that in our case it doesn’t exist.
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“The playing field is completely safe and playable with an aesthetic deviation due to the necessary, aggressive work.
“OPAP Arena has had a busy schedule since its inception [in 2022], which is now being regulated.
“Both the club management [AEK] and the maintenance company are in control and it is only a matter of time before the issue is finally resolved.”