National Football League

England coach on NFL: Stay off Wembley's pitch

Published Nov. 8, 2014 12:15 a.m. ET

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Banners and posters all over London are promoting Sunday's NFL game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys at Wembley Stadium.

But one man not buying into the hoopla is Roy Hodgson -- manager of England's national team. He says the game will deteriorate the pitch, which already isn't in great condition.

The NFL game comes six days before England plays Slovenia in a Euro 2016 qualifier, and Hodgson is concerned.

"I can't pretend that is something that makes me leap for joy," Hodgson said, via ESPNFC.com. "If I was asked if it was a good thing or not, I would have to say not."

After former England manager Fabio Capello complained about the original field, the Football Association laid a new one in 2010, but the hybrid grass also is slowly starting to deteriorate.

"I don't really think you could expect me to say, 'Excellent, delighted, well done,'" Hodgson added. "The pitch, unfortunately, is not in the best of nick anyway, which we're all a bit unhappy with."