Soccer-Swiss weather havoc forces Swedes to change training plan
THUN, Switzerland (Reuters) -Sweden had to change their planned training session as soaring temperatures that have affected the Women's Euros gave way to torrential rain on Monday that soaked the pitch in Lucerne where they face Poland in their second Group C game on Tuesday.
With several games played in temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius, a sudden change saw the weather cool quickly as violent rainstorms broke out on Monday that forced organisers to impose some restrictions on the Swedes' training on the stadium pitch.
"We had planned a training session today and were told that we are not allowed to have plastic guys (defenders used for drills) or poles on the pitch," Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson told reporters ahead of their session.
"That's the first time I had ever heard that you are not allowed to put them out. I suppose it's to protect the pitch."
In keeping with the Swedish saying that "there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes", Gerhardsson said his side would train, regardless of the rain.
"We're going to do this hour, there should be waterproofs and all those kinds of things," he said.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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