The Netherlands are unimpressed with the training conditions in New Zealand as they prepare for their opening game against Portugal on Sunday.
The Dutch also accused the Women’s World Cup of being an amateurish organisation.
Coach Andries Jonker is concerned about players’ injuries since the Bay Oval in Tauranga, where the Dutch squad is training, has a hard cricket pitch in the middle. It must be noted that the Netherlands had asked the tournament organisers to remove the pitch months before the event started.
"When we arrived here on Wednesday, I thought, ‘now what is this now?’ I will not train on this," Jonker told reporters.
“We have raised concerns about the cricket pitch previously, we were promised things and now we are very disappointed and angry. We are not satisfied.
"We want to play a good first match against Portugal here, we want to have a top preparation, a top tournament and we also consider ourselves a top team. This does not fit. This fits with amateurism of the highest order.
"If you fall on it with your knee or your shoulder, you could have a problem. If you sprint from the grass to that pitch, that is also not good for muscles and tendons that are already under tension.”
The Netherlands football team will continue to train at the venue but won’t be doing any full-pitch practice ahead of their first match.
"With other exercises we can train around that pitch, but 11 against 11 doesn't work," the coach added.
"There were two other options. We could go to Dunedin earlier, but then you have to re-arrange hotels, flights and everyone is on the wrong track.
"There was also the suggestion we go to Hamilton. That's an hour and a half drive. That sounds easy, but then you are on the road from 10 am to 6 pm for one training session.”