Wales vs Belgium: Gareth Bale pictured pulling up chunks of controversial Stade Pierre-Mauroy pitch ahead of quarter-final clash
WALES players were given a surprise when they inspected the Stade Pierre-Mauroy pitch today ahead of their Euro 2016 quarter-final clash against Belgium tomorrow.
Gareth Bale, in particular, was pictured PULLING UP a large chunk of the controversial surface in Lille which was relaid last Friday after heavy criticism.
Wales did not train on the controversial pitch ahead of the final-eight fixture, instead training at their Brittany base in Dinard earlier on today before the visit to the stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq.
Officials blamed "extremely difficult weather conditions in the past few weeks" for the poor playing surface which needed to be relaid. A new pitch from Holland was imported and installed for Germany's last 16 win over Slovakia last Sunday.
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It is not the first time UEFA has carried out the replacement of a pitch during a European championships; the pitch at St-Jakob Park in Basel was replaced during Euro 2008 following extreme weather.
Wales talisman Bale branded the game against Belgium the Dragons' "biggest match" in 58 years, since their 1-0 1958 World Cup quarter-final defeat by Brazil in Sweden.
Bale said: “We know about the quarter-final in 1958 but since then it’s definitely the biggest game in Welsh football. This is our time to shine. We’re the only home nation left in the competition, which is an amazing achievement in itself.”
