Nations League: Austria has the lawn x-rayed – the game with world champion France takes place

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Workers fill the hole in the center circle

Photo: Helmut Fohringer / dpa

The Austrian national football team can play against world champions France as planned on Friday (8.45 p.m. / DAZN) in the Nations League, although last Monday there was a power failure in the Ernst Happel Stadium against Denmark (1: 2) and a 30 centimeter deep hole in the lawn caused a lot of excitement and some discussions.

Due to the power failure, the Denmark game could only be started 90 minutes late.

After the game, a deep hole in the center circle caused a stir.

Because nobody could explain the sudden appearance of the hole, the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) even had the pitch X-rayed using a special device to look for underground cavities.

In addition, a report on the condition of the substructure of the turf was sent to the European Football Union (Uefa).

Ultimately, it was probably the heavy rainfall that led to a rise in groundwater, which is said to be responsible for the hole.

ÖFB Managing Director Bernhard Neuhold explained to journalists that the water pressed onto the playing surface from below.

"As a result, a cavity was obviously formed that ended in this hole."

Late on Wednesday evening, Uefa gave the green light for the new team boss Ralf Rangnick's team to meet against the Equipe Tricolore, who are still without a win in the current Nations League (1-2 against Denmark and 1-1 in Croatia).

Only the weather continues to cause concern: Before the duel against France in the Ernst Happel Stadium, heavy rain is forecast again on Thursday and Friday.

The ÖFB keeps new turf ready for emergencies, the hole was also filled in over a wide area and the field was worked on again with a roller.

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