Stephen Doyle in Lille
"The pitches should be better and we're not happy," UEFA Euro 2016 tournament director Martin Kallen told reporters this week.
The surfaces at Marseille, Saint Denis and Lille have been dreadful and Ireland and Italy will clash on the latter tomorrow night in their final Group E match.
The weather in France has been poor, with plenty of rain and not much sunshine to dry the soggy pitches out but Kallen has said they are doing all they can.
"We have taken measures to preserve pitches but in a summer tournament you don't expect it to rain so much."
Drying machines and fertilizers have been used to speed up the process while groundstaff with mowers and pitchforks have been working hard after every game.
UEFA also cancelled training for the Irish and Italian squads here in Lille tonight where the rain has been coming down all morning.
Defender Stephen Ward's been speaking to 98FM Sport's Stephen Doyle - ©INPHO/Donall Farmer
The players will just do a walkabout and two of them, Stephen Ward and Wes Hoolahan have been speaking to 98FM Sport's Stephen Doyle
