'The state of the pitch was a DISASTER' - Emi Martinez after Argentina vs. Canada | ESPN FC

The ESPN FC panel of Alejandro Moreno, Shaka Hislop, Sebastian Salazar and Herculez Gomez react to Chile vs. Peru and Emi Martinez's comments on the state of the pitch vs. Canada.
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[@ricardobjj24]

Even NFL players hate the fields in these stadiums

[@Alan-yt8vq]

NFL doesn't have any standards. FIFA does.

[@shaa3902]

The put a temporary pitch over it

[@abnrgrtr]

Copa America organizers have no one to blame but themselves for the conditions in Atlanta. They could have installed the grass well over a week before that match, but they did not want Atlanta United playing on it the Saturday night prior. Thus, it had to be done after that match leaving only a few days for the sod to settle and root.

[@ThePolypam]

Grass needs at least three weeks to settle and it is doubtful that CONCACAF dictated that the MLS *had" to play in that uniquely American cheap option, synthetic surface.

[@abnrgrtr]

@@ThePolypam sorry, you obviously are not at all familiar with this situation.

[@ThePolypam]

@@abnrgrtr I'm not involved indeed if that's what you mean. I know what I heard the coaches and experts say. Sloppy organization if CONCACAF allows a local league to call the shots for a relatively unimportant match when this major international tournament was coming up.

[@abnrgrtr]

@@ThePolypam again, you have no idea what you're talking about in this situation. It wasn't the local team that called the shots. The Copa America organizers would not allow the local team to play on the grass for the game they had the Saturday night before, which meant they only could put the sod down a few days before the game. They could have put it down another week or so before, which would have allowed it sometime to settle. And it's not actual grass growing in the ground. It's just sod laid over the artificial turf that is in that stadium. This is totally on the tournament organizers not on the local team or the people responsible for the grass.

[@yammmm9112]

Basically a South American tournament held FAR away from South America. The South Americans from the TOP copa America teams aren’t the most populous in the US and have difficulty coming to the US to watch the games let alone afford them! The cost of the tickets right now are INSANE!!!

[@stevemarshall3508]

It’s an American tournament. It’s not just South American countries participating. That’s not a fair take

[@juancarlosalonso5664]

@stevemarshall3508 Why do you talk on things you obviously know nothing about? IT IS a South american tournament, it has NEVER been held outside of South America except for the already controversial Centenario which wasn’t an official edition. North America already has its own international tournament, the fact that this Copa America is being held in the US solely for money is a disgrace for everyone involved.

[@od9694]

​@@stevemarshall3508it's a south American tournament that north American have been invited in

[@stevemarshall3508]

@@juancarlosalonso5664 with your logic, the World Cup shouldn’t participate in the American countries anymore because it’s just a few countries that have been invited to it but it’s really a European tournament cause that’s where most of the participating countries come from. Your logic is stupid

[@JJ-nu8qi]

Seems like plenty made it to the games I've watched.

[@Bigmaste]

So called first world countries and cannot provide an acceptable grass playing field. It's a joke

[@dagosegovia843]

Bc when it comes to football usa is a 3rd world country

[@colinwithrow1083]

Some countries where it’s the main sport can’t figure it out either

[@Bigmaste]

@@colinwithrow1083 you shouldn't commit to organizing then

[@lennyjenkins9931]

​@@BigmasteSo Germany shouldn't organize it either? And btw it was only in Atlanta because the organizers screwed it up. The Pitches in Santa Clara and Houston seemed decent.

[@sublime9525]

That will be the problem in the next World Cup in the Us as well then 😅

[@abnrgrtr]

Incorrect. The process that will be used for the World Cup will be completely different. And it will be installed months ahead of time.

[@juancarlosalonso5664]

Oh god don’t remind me of that, it’ll probably be the worst WC in living memory.

[@henriberry01]

I agree with Ale's analysis on the tension in the game, i was at the stadium and it was very quiet at times. It didnt feel like a copa america match. It felt like a friendly

[@juancarlosalonso5664]

Yeah it’s surreal.

[@DizzyMakavelli]

I was watching the USMNT debut on TV and the crowd sounded and looked dead.

[@Joswag]

Pretty much every stadium originally had turf so that’s probably a reason

[@trevorkew6097]

Moreno is so right here about the weird atmosphere. Lots of people at the Canada Argentina game but it’s as he said…a celebration of Messi rather than people actually supporting their national teams fervently. Kills the tension and stakes. It’s more like a concert than a football match. This Copa is a joke compared to the Euros.

[@shaquillethomas1544]

Stfu Euros is overrated and boring

[@JW-28]

The euros have been terrible too. That France vs Netherlands game was unwatchable.

[@juancarlosalonso5664]

trevorkew6097 Completely agreed, they turned this Copa America into a joke by holding it in the US.

[@ThePolypam]

​@@juancarlosalonso5664 Can we agree that American-style organization just cheapens events across the board? Spectacle trumps excellence of the performance, from soccer to concerts.

[@mrsmellyboy1]

@@JW-28 I would love to know what is the league you mostly follow.

[@EricLanda-me2ln]

When I was in high school in 2010-2014 I told my PE teacher and coaches this artificial terf is not ideal. And she was like oh it is because it scientifically better for the sport. I was like which one cuz even American football this terf bounce and that’s really bad on the ankles and knees you really feel it. And she brushed me off and the year after a lot, a lot of the linemen got knee injuries and ankle problems because of the “bounce” I described. One kid needed metal rods into his knee because when he went on the line for the play his knee barely tapped the terf and the bounce back caved his knee cap in and it shattered. I’m still friends with that kid 11 years later.

[@Yuh0847]

Did your school finally learn their lesson?

[@peterparker6377]

Same happened in T20 cricket worldcup for group stages USA can't even provide world class level cricket fields like other countries does

[@diegopons4622]

As a fellow Southamerican I must say, thank you, Ale Moreno for saying it. Copa America should not be played in the United States anymore. It's all about money, but the intensity and environment for the games in this country don't do justice for this historic competition.

[@Patrick-qz6tn]

It's definitely all about the money! The inclusion of Canada, Mexico, and USA are money decisions too. Why does any large organization make any decision? Money. Decisions like these that dampen human experiences will keep happening until global society moves past capitalist greed.

[@jazz249]

agree with ale... just like Super Bowl will not be in Europe or NBA Finals will not be in Saudi Arabia...

[@cjhan9816]

NFL will future host an Super Bowl in London UK like UEFA will future host an Champions League Finals in NYC USA.

[@jazz249]

@@cjhan9816 Super Bowl in London? not likely at all. everyday there are people winning lottery jackpot but the chance of winning lottery for the average joe winning jackpot is zero (0).

[@cjhan9816]

@@jazz249: We shall see. 🤔

[@jazz249]

@@cjhan9816 bon second thought, you may be right.. London to host a Superbowl. after all, the entire UK is realistically 51st state of US... so hosting a Superbowl in London is no different from hosting in NYC. 😆

[@samnedumedja5323]

You guys also failed to mention lack of enough space for players to charge when taking corner kicks.

[@keithbrown4300]

Don't be so negative Ale Moreno. While I agree some of the stadium field conditions are not ideal, I will bet you my bottom dollars, the overall conditions in the US stadiums are better than most in CONMEBOL. Copa America in Spanish means American Cup. Last I checked USA was on the American continent. Growing the game and attracting fan base is smart business and good for the sport.

[@DizzyMakavelli]

Cut this B S. You call yourself American. Your country America. But now America refers to the whole continent? Copa America is a South American competition. This must be the second time that it's played outside. Doesn't matter if you have nice stadiums If your pitch is trash and the fans are a theatre audience.

[@rosebladepat]

Ale, you got it perfectly right! Copa America should stay in South America. These games are tough to watch on TV. The fans aren't fans, in general; they're spectators. If these games were held in South America, by contrast, real fans would be present, supporting their teams 100%.

[@scottcui8087]

What history are you talking about Ali? Copa america has always been a sub par tournament. Seen many copa games over the years, used to be played in mostly empty stadiums with terrible broadcasts, big names players never used to come and play in this tournament. USA has brought money to make this a half decent tournament, and you complained about the history, turf, etc. SMH.

[@justicelai7404]

same with brasil...the crowd cheer everytime when neymar touches thd ball

[@DizzyMakavelli]

It's a Brazilian attendance what do you want? Do you want them to boo their best player?

[@1dering1]

Don’t complain? The players have nothing to do with the desicion of playing in the US. This is what happenes when people who don’t understand how to play good have a say. The stadium was not lively because it was Argentina vs Canada. Isn’t he lost…

[@kj7312]

Its fascinating how much money this “business” produces. They can’t afford a well built field. Oh also it lessons injuries for your million dollar players.

[@tomcruise3355]

agree with Ale , Copa America needs to be played in SA. even with Concacaf teams

[@quanghaopham]

Messi going to inspires a whole new generation of players in the US is the most important thing in this for me.

[@Michael-v3z1s]

Why? These countries can't organize a pissup.

[@colinwithrow1083]

He really said “the Copa ‘America’ shouldn’t be played in AMERICA” 😂 makes no sense. Ask 99% of Latinos and they’ll tell you America is one continent.

[@brucetrappleton6984]

Actually, he's 100% right. Copa America is historically a South American tournament. If Concacaf teams want to participate, they should be allowed to. However, it should still be played in South America.

[@juancarlosalonso5664]

colinwithrow1083 Not sure if you’re gaslighting or if you simply don’t know what you’re talking about, but he’s absolutely right. The Copa America has never been held outside of South America (except for the Centenario which wasn’t an official edition and still was controversial). MANY people are against it being held in the US and everyone knows the only reason it’s happening is money.

[@PaddyMcMe]

Amazing job disingenuously interpreting his criticism.

[@BigSuzpekt]

@@juancarlosalonso5664exactly. If fans don’t complain, it’ll just be a gold cup situation where it’s only held in the US for money.

[@colinwithrow1083]

@@juancarlosalonso5664you really think they usually hold the Copa America only for the “love of the game”. Conmebol is just like CONCACAF which is overseen by fifa. It’s all for money. Wake up.

[@DCC-ho2nk]

Agree with ale completely

[@battistimo]

The tournament atmosphere sucks. It feels like a game at a mall.

[@justicelai7404]

because u are the best team...u need to have things prepare to put out a good performance

[@ankitdixit6073]

You want it to compete with the euros and you are not screening it in one of your biggest markets in india. Such a ridiculous mistake.

[@inzykhan415]

Who cares about copa America when the Euros are on 🖕

[@EpicGammingCrew]

MLS where our supposed “top dawg” teams play on plastic pitches 👏👏👏 But it’s aight. Very hard to grow nice grass in tough climates like Atlanta and charlotte 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@bestremixes4482]

Shaka needs to keep his eyes closed and hammock ridden because he’s wasting our time with pathetic analysis of any soccer topic!

[@adam.vision]

1 Million percent correct

[@brucetrappleton6984]

What Ale is saying is 100% true. Hence, he's putting his career on TV at risk.

[@_A7X]

Messi will carry Argentina.. Portugal will carry Ronaldo End of discussion

[@justsomeguywithamustache2901]

Messi and emi will carry Argentina, emi was arguably the 2nd best player against Canada, he legit had 3 good saves 😂

[@_A7X]

​@@justsomeguywithamustache2901Vitinha, Silva and Pepe were the best players in Portugal 😂

[@justsomeguywithamustache2901]

@@_A7X agreed

[@eggm0ney]

@@justsomeguywithamustache2901 Ronaldo sucks

[@justsomeguywithamustache2901]

@@eggm0ney yes

[@barretmc]

Alex Moreno is a legend

[@damianclark2080]

Argentina love to complain about nothing

[@eladrio2311]

cope

[@albertcamus6611]

un dos tres, ale ale ale!

[@logiclust]

FYI, copa hired the same trash grounds keeper that put the turf in for the 49ers at the Superbowl

[@RieyaadIsmail]

World Cup 2026 😢

[@_A7X]

Copa America and South America football is the most difficult.. It's full of fiercest rivalries, intensity, harsh atmosphere and pitch conditions unlike chickens in Euros.. Europeans would flap their chicken wings and cry if they step into South America football

[@albaptiste8691]

You mentioned nothing that has to do with football

[@elpresidente1990]

Congrats for the stupidest KZbin comment

[@jevayne]

Rubbish

[@sublime9525]

Yeah it’s a war zone, not a football game

[@tonisosic5075]

😂😂😂You are delusional my friend

[@cesarmedina6124]

The Mexico vs jamaica was more horrible to watch than peru Chile. So yes, the quality of soccer sucks. Peru vs Chile is much more than what your eyes see Seb. You just can’t understand that rivalry.

[@khalzo7804]

These players playing champion league , surely their don't want get on some dodgy turf. Big European club don't care about Messi

[@Michael-v3z1s]

SOUTH American is a dividing festival .

[@eladrio2311]

cope

[@bestremixes4482]

Moreno has not only lost all his hair, but lost all his marbles! This guy has about as much soccer knowledge as a field mouse! 😂Messi was a disgrace and I’m Argentinian. Get him off the field!

[@FalconPunch-ee5cm]

What they are talking about the Eurocup seems boring to me, in reality the game of Georgia Czech Romania Poland Slovakia Slovenia is not better than Ecuador Venezuela and Peru for example There you see much more passion and intensity

[@monkeyfeetmonkeyshoes8300]

Emi Martinez talking about Argentina not playing to their quality is funny. They are World champions because of one guy, not a team.

[@jonpool9030]

Yes the fifa president

[@JorgePerez-jg5cm]

Spoken like an American that knows very little about the game.

[@arielsegieda4209]

The ignorance....the ignorance

[@HKD2]

There are 11 men on the pitch, it is a team sport. Messi didn't defend inside the box, Messi did not assist himself, Messi did not score off his assists, Messi did not block the penalties that Emi blocked.

[@eladrio2311]

cope

[@dalecampbell147]

Annoying voice, breathless ramble. tell it to the ref ! Red card, no argument ! ... (÷

[@chandamusambachime5497]

Copa America is too physical and lacks quality. Too much passion, very little flair. Its only about Brazil and Argentina, the rest is a very poor supporting cast. Comnebol needs structural changes to make national team more attractive to neutrals. The tournament is not even aired in Africa and is losing money from TV rights

[@carlospadilla5959]

Copa América is being played in America, makes sense to me

[@juancarlosalonso5664]

They why is the World Series only played in the US? Don’t be silly it’s a South American tournament, always has been. You don’t see the Superball (or whatever it’s called) being played in South America, do you?

[@carlospadilla5959]

@@juancarlosalonso5664 they have the world baseball classic as the world championship. Also, then Conmebol should change their tournament to Copa Sudamérica

[@bestremixes4482]

Ale Moreno is like verbal diarrhea 😂

[@Michael-v3z1s]

Copa America sucks. BORING

[@juancarlosalonso5664]

Normal my I would disagree, but this year? With it being held in the US? Yeah you’re right.

[@AzamatoTheGreat]

I don't get it. Copa America is for the Americas right? US is in the Americas right?.. what's the issue?

[@demin789]

Yeah, like Gold Cup is for teams taht have won the gold, right? Why is USA and CANADA even playing there? They never won any Gold, Mexico did with the olympics. Remove everyone from CONCACAF but Mexico from Gold Cup.

[@samnedumedja5323]

Copa América should include the whole of the Americas. South American teams only shouldn't be called copa América. And most South American teams are not that much better anymore.

[@juancarlosalonso5664]

Who are you to say that? You guys have something called the MLB World Series, do you see other countries trying to force you to play your Sporting events in their countries? Americans man, I swear…

[@demin789]

Yes, and USA should change its name because its not compromised by the entirety of states in America.

[@Celloide]

The greatest players in the world played copa America > euro cup is garbage no player from Europe will ever compare with pele, maradona, R9, Messi...

[@jasondbaker]

The US has plenty of large stadiums with real grass, but apparently not in the places deemed most marketable for the organizers.

[@marlu6373]

Solders field Chicago

[@AltairCreedZ]

Real grass stadiums are way more expensive.

[@hasan14598]

Football must play on the grass. Its a natural game. The Federation must work on it.

[@Patrick-qz6tn]

What is "natural" about it? The ball? No. The shoes? No.

[@onetime1239]

Moreno is 100 % right. It's all about the $

[@Frostblaze207]

Ale is on point with the Messi fanboys who only come to see him, it’s strange. It’s not just oh last chance to see Messi with Argentina, it’s just celebrities and non soccer fans seeing Messi as a status symbol.

[@Photosoflife]

The pitches in Germany have not been good either. The players are tearing up the fields in Germany and falling over all the time because of the fields.

[@julkernyne8925]

Pitches in Germany are not made of artificial grass

[@samnedumedja5323]

I am sure players are complaining there too. Internal tournaments never have everything ready like league games.

[@gabym94]

At least the pitches on Germany are natural grass, playing on artificial grass is horrible

[@mrsmellyboy1]

Have seen every game of euros, there was only one pitch that was bad because they accounted for different weather conditions. But nice one, trying to generalize to make your stupid point valid.

[@shaquilleoatmeal9136]

If money drive the organisation to play their games in the US then surely it should be able to maintain the conditions of the pitches they gonna play.

[@cliffthiel1666]

copa america is meant to be in the americas, meaning north,south,middle its still all america, so it can be held in the USA but the fields need to be up to par when WORLD champions are playing on it.

[@juancarlosalonso5664]

It has NEVER been held outside South America, that’s like saying the World Series in MLB is a global event because of how it’s called, don’t be silly.

[@DizzyMakavelli]

It's a South American competition. Other countries are just guests.

[@davinalopez-oz1ez]

It's a South American competition, CONMEBOL Copa América Teams like Japan,Qatar and Jamaica have been invited to this tournament in the past.

[@nyr14]

Wah wah wah🍼🍼 buncha babies whining about field conditions

[@eladrio2311]

cope

[@minadoro]

You go play in that surface. Tickets were selling for about $600 a ticket times 80000 people in NJ.

[@skyman2968]

Thats great if you think the coppa should be held in south America. But you need to acknowledge that south America had a hole bunch of problems that led the coppa being held i the US.i think Ecuador was supposed to host this Coppa but had instability in their contry. Not to mention that the last host brasil hosted it last minute because another contry could not any more.

[@JJ-nu8qi]

Let's just pretend that wasn't an issue.

[@stevemarshall3508]

For whatever reason these owners don’t care. NFL players have been protesting for however long, but the sport keeps growing, and the revenue is increasing but nothing changes

[@Esty-gk4ju]

Dibu, aka LA f. things are not set in good situation.

[@Kannadiga321-r4n]

Good point❤

[@adrisan6296]

The amount of nonsense that comes out of Ale Moreno's mouth is embarrassing sometimes.

[@godfirst9990]

So let me get this straight, if the other teams don't win, it's because everyone was cheering for Messy? Are these players professionals or not? I don't get it.

[@xLOVExGODx]

Edson Alvarez was hurt during the Mexican game because of the field….😔

[@alexchernandez88]

these games dont have they same intensity and Moreno is right they should be held in South America

[@Michael-v3z1s]

Really ? Dealing with who? Boring

[@FalconPunch-ee5cm]

He's so cringe

[@JorgePerez-jg5cm]

They do need football specific stadium’s built for the sport but it needs to be gradually built up as an example Brasil went all out for the World Cup and it ended in disaster many of those stadiums are now sitting being un used and are falling apart the teams need to be ready to occupy the stadiums and partnership need to be built for the off season to use of those facilities.

[@DizzyMakavelli]

What? The majority of the stadiums used in 2014 was already there. Brazil was not a country without Football culture. The stadiums were just renovated to the Fifa stands making some stadiums worse than they was. Almost all the stadiums are being used since Brazil is huge and every state has from 2 to 4 big clubs.

[@robbie1898]

Love this style of show instead of always sitting down

[@stewartrickert]

So the turf only effects Argentina? I don’t doubt the surface probably isn’t great but I also hate no one ever saying “ the turf sucked and so did we , we didn’t play at our standard “ both can be true.

[@malvarezroson]

A Bad pitch always hurts the more technical side. It levels the plane.

[@tomasmaniago5832]

They did say both things, but people only stick to the pitch talk.

[@MauroB26]

Miller also complayed about the field, davies too.

[@kunalsingh4418]

Every team is complaining about the pitch mate. Argentina's players opinion just gets the highlight.

[@logiclust]

another garbage pitch, so far levis is the only proper pitch. I agree with mereno, as usual, copa should not be in NA

[@djhansum1410]

Only Argentina is complaining

[@gobomladikk5197]

They’re also the only big team to play so far

[@rayes7331]

The other team too

[@ellaq4610]

No they are not not, Perú complained, American players, Canadian players have all complained

[@kunalsingh4418]

Maybe you are not listening? Other teams have also complained lol.

[@eladrio2311]

nope, other countries have too, Argentina's complains carry more weight tho

[@GZMJr]

This guys is upset Messi the “Greatest Player” on planet earth has FANS/STANS that love him. Primo you didn’t do NADA to talk about him like this just sit down and enjoy the show.

[@palatialslumlord4938]

Qatar Trillionaires aren't rigging this competition in their favor, so ofc course the racist Argentineans have to cry about everything

[@1dering1]

Now say it without crying.

[@donimic1067]

Penaldo fans detected😂😂😂

[@malvarezroson]

Butthurt Mexican maybe? Only a Mexican can cry that loud for so long.... The most envious country in the world.

[@malvarezroson]

Butthurt mexican maybe? Only a Mexican can cry that loud for so long. The most envious people in the world.

[@rayes7331]

Same could be said that it was rigged for France, they got two penalties etc...