Dirty TackleFlooding in Recife could have an impact on USA-Germany match
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Less than three hours before the start of the titanic USA-Germany showdown on Thursday, the streets of Recife were flooded to knee level. While the soccer stadium is actually located about an hour outside of the city, the water was causing problems for both local residents and everyone who was trying to get out to the stadium grounds after spending the night in the city.
It also has FIFA on high alert:
Per FIFA - referee Ravshan Irmatov of Uzbekistan on his way to Arena Pernambuco, will inspect field condition when he arrives. #USAvGER
— Martin Rogers (@mrogersyahoo) June 26, 2014
Here are some photographs taken by the Yahoo Sports staff en route to the stadium:
Fear not, though, Teddy Goalsevelt is on the case:
Flooding in Recife. Teddy Goalsevelt guiding our car through the tough waters. Onwards to the stadium! #LetsDoThis pic.twitter.com/lUEi5Rcxlf
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) June 26, 2014
There was some concern that the match could be postponed, and if so, Ghana-Portugal would almost certainly have been postponed as well to prevent any advantage. But fear not: the match will go on!
RT @Melanie_Collins Official word from FIFA: match will go on as planned. No delay. #USAvsGER
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 26, 2014
Some reporters who have already braved the waters to reach the stadium say the scene near the pitch is a lot better than in the flooded streets of Recife.
Word from US Soccer on the field conditions as heavy rains fall in Recife: "soft, but holding up pretty well so far."
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) June 26, 2014
Pulling up to stadium, which looks like it's gonna be fine. Really doubt that this will be postponed. Traffic outside metro area manageable
— Pablo S. Torre (@PabloTorre) June 26, 2014
Stadium looks surprisingly normal RT @jwitalka: Rains light but steady at stadium. Preparations continue. #USAvGER pic.twitter.com/guazab69DX
— Wayne Drehs (@espnWD) June 26, 2014
Still raining hard. Field sloppy. But it'll have to be dreadful for game to be postponed. pic.twitter.com/n5eXmMadQj
— Jeremy Schaap (@JeremySchaap) June 26, 2014
Of course, this could play right into the United States' hands. A wet pitch cuts down on speed and passing, and could result in a relatively bland ball-control game. A 0-0 tie that would get the United States into the knockout round of 16, say.
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter.
