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| Women's World Cup: is artificial turf to blame for a lack of goals? | Women's World Cup: is artificial turf to blame for a lack of goals? |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| It was a sunny but breezy Saturday afternoon in Vancouver, and the US women’s national team had just finished their morning training. The session, of course, took place on an artificial training pitch that had been plopped in the middle of a park with lush, green grass everywhere else. | It was a sunny but breezy Saturday afternoon in Vancouver, and the US women’s national team had just finished their morning training. The session, of course, took place on an artificial training pitch that had been plopped in the middle of a park with lush, green grass everywhere else. |
| Related: USA at the Women's World Cup: what we learned from the group stage | Related: USA at the Women's World Cup: what we learned from the group stage |
| The Guardian asked USA forward Abby Wambach about her new role as a substitute in a World Cup. Wambach seemed to have something else on her mind, though. She said her focus was on getting on the end of a cross against Sweden, which she did, but: “If it’s on grass, I think it goes in.” | The Guardian asked USA forward Abby Wambach about her new role as a substitute in a World Cup. Wambach seemed to have something else on her mind, though. She said her focus was on getting on the end of a cross against Sweden, which she did, but: “If it’s on grass, I think it goes in.” |
| In one fell swoop, the turf issue that had been such a major talking point in the months before the tournament was back. Wambach had blamed the playing surface for her failure to score goals, and news outlets latched on to it. High-profile voices in the media called it a weak excuse that “borders on absurd.” | In one fell swoop, the turf issue that had been such a major talking point in the months before the tournament was back. Wambach had blamed the playing surface for her failure to score goals, and news outlets latched on to it. High-profile voices in the media called it a weak excuse that “borders on absurd.” |
| Any excuse for the USA’s failures to score goals certainly wasn’t going to be met with sympathy. The Americans have had their chances that they’ve failed to finish in ways that have nothing to do with the playing surface. Simply put, the American attack has been underperforming. | Any excuse for the USA’s failures to score goals certainly wasn’t going to be met with sympathy. The Americans have had their chances that they’ve failed to finish in ways that have nothing to do with the playing surface. Simply put, the American attack has been underperforming. |
| But was Wambach completely wrong? | But was Wambach completely wrong? |
| In the USA’s scoreless draw against Sweden, Wambach nearly scored a game-winner in the 72nd minute. She dived head-first into the goal area and connected well on a cross, driving it low toward the turf. But the ball took a high and unnatural bounce toward the hands of goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, who didn’t have to reach out to guide the ball over the crossbar. | In the USA’s scoreless draw against Sweden, Wambach nearly scored a game-winner in the 72nd minute. She dived head-first into the goal area and connected well on a cross, driving it low toward the turf. But the ball took a high and unnatural bounce toward the hands of goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, who didn’t have to reach out to guide the ball over the crossbar. |
| “The ball as it comes off my head against Sweden hits a dry turf and bounces higher,” Wambach said. “If it hits grass, it’s harder for a goalkeeper to react. If the ball bounces higher, the goalkeeper has more time to react off the turf.” | “The ball as it comes off my head against Sweden hits a dry turf and bounces higher,” Wambach said. “If it hits grass, it’s harder for a goalkeeper to react. If the ball bounces higher, the goalkeeper has more time to react off the turf.” |
| Wambach hasn’t been entirely alone in her complaints. Japan’s captain Aya Miyama said “dribbling was difficult” on BC Place’s new turf, which was installed specifically for the Women’s World Cup. | Wambach hasn’t been entirely alone in her complaints. Japan’s captain Aya Miyama said “dribbling was difficult” on BC Place’s new turf, which was installed specifically for the Women’s World Cup. |
| Once Wambach’s comments made the rounds, the US women were back on message. Forward Sydney Leroux said: “I’ve been playing as hard as I play on grass. It’s a World Cup and, yes, it is different but nothing can be changed now.” Defender Ali Krieger said: “Everyone’s playing on the same surface and we just have to adapt to it.” | Once Wambach’s comments made the rounds, the US women were back on message. Forward Sydney Leroux said: “I’ve been playing as hard as I play on grass. It’s a World Cup and, yes, it is different but nothing can be changed now.” Defender Ali Krieger said: “Everyone’s playing on the same surface and we just have to adapt to it.” |
| Related: Women's World Cup: fans' photos from the group stage | |
| This tournament in Canada is the first-ever senior World Cup to be held by FIFA on artificial turf. The men’s tournament has always been held on real grass, and is planned to be on grass in the next iterations planned through 2022 in Qatar. Recently resigned Fifa president Sepp Blatter said last year that “artificial pitches are the future”. | This tournament in Canada is the first-ever senior World Cup to be held by FIFA on artificial turf. The men’s tournament has always been held on real grass, and is planned to be on grass in the next iterations planned through 2022 in Qatar. Recently resigned Fifa president Sepp Blatter said last year that “artificial pitches are the future”. |
| The debate about whether artificial turf causes more injuries than natural grass continues to rage, with plenty of evidence to support both sides. Fifa, in defending the use of artificial turf, has cited professionals who say it is safe. | The debate about whether artificial turf causes more injuries than natural grass continues to rage, with plenty of evidence to support both sides. Fifa, in defending the use of artificial turf, has cited professionals who say it is safe. |
| But now, in the thick of the tournament, the debate has shifted to one about the game itself – about winning, and entertainment value. | But now, in the thick of the tournament, the debate has shifted to one about the game itself – about winning, and entertainment value. |
| “I think that there are a lot more goals in this tournament if it weren’t for the turf, having probably been on the losing end of that battle a few times now,” Wambach said. | “I think that there are a lot more goals in this tournament if it weren’t for the turf, having probably been on the losing end of that battle a few times now,” Wambach said. |
| Some teams have had no trouble scoring. Look at Germany, which posted a 10-0 blowout over Ivory Coast. Ecuador isn’t likely to think this tournament has too few goals, either – the World Cup debutants conceded 17 goals over three group games. | Some teams have had no trouble scoring. Look at Germany, which posted a 10-0 blowout over Ivory Coast. Ecuador isn’t likely to think this tournament has too few goals, either – the World Cup debutants conceded 17 goals over three group games. |
| But across the tournament, when blowouts against the weakest teams are discounted, this could shape up to be a conservative tournament where goals are concerned. | But across the tournament, when blowouts against the weakest teams are discounted, this could shape up to be a conservative tournament where goals are concerned. |
| The average goals per game at the end of the group stage was 2.97, but that was skewed by some of the lopsided results that come as a result of expanding the tournament from 16 teams to 24. Take out thoseblowouts against new teams, and the average drops by nearly a goal per game and below the average for the 2011 tournament. As knockouts begin and games tighten, the average could further shrink. | The average goals per game at the end of the group stage was 2.97, but that was skewed by some of the lopsided results that come as a result of expanding the tournament from 16 teams to 24. Take out thoseblowouts against new teams, and the average drops by nearly a goal per game and below the average for the 2011 tournament. As knockouts begin and games tighten, the average could further shrink. |
| After her game-winner against Nigeria, Wambach reiterated her assessment of the turf – but acknowledged her responsibility for not scoring. | After her game-winner against Nigeria, Wambach reiterated her assessment of the turf – but acknowledged her responsibility for not scoring. |
| “Scoring goals is not that easy, and I’m not making any excuses. I need to finish chances that are handed to me,” Wambach said. “But the turf does make the ball bounce differently and you think differently about that game. That’s just the reality and that’s what my comments meant.” | “Scoring goals is not that easy, and I’m not making any excuses. I need to finish chances that are handed to me,” Wambach said. “But the turf does make the ball bounce differently and you think differently about that game. That’s just the reality and that’s what my comments meant.” |
| Wambach seemed acutely aware of the renewed debate she started and the criticism she spurned toward the US women’s national team. Whether she was just speaking off the cuff or not, she has no problem with the small uproar she caused. | Wambach seemed acutely aware of the renewed debate she started and the criticism she spurned toward the US women’s national team. Whether she was just speaking off the cuff or not, she has no problem with the small uproar she caused. |
| “It’s awesome that we’re talking about women’s football,” Wambach said. “It’s awesome that we’re having some of these discussions. It’s awesome that we’re analysing and hyper-dissecting things that we’ve said. To me, that shows growth. Even if it’s hard on my PR guy, I say: ‘Hey man, this is all good stuff. We’re talking about women’s football one way or another.’ ” | “It’s awesome that we’re talking about women’s football,” Wambach said. “It’s awesome that we’re having some of these discussions. It’s awesome that we’re analysing and hyper-dissecting things that we’ve said. To me, that shows growth. Even if it’s hard on my PR guy, I say: ‘Hey man, this is all good stuff. We’re talking about women’s football one way or another.’ ” |