Training headaches ahead of Socceroos World Cup match

World Cup organisers are scrambling to arrange a new venue for the final training session ahead of the Socceroos match against Spain on Tuesday after the stadium pitch in Curitiba was found not to be ready.

(Photo: Brett Mason, SBS)

The 15-year-old Arena da Baixada in the southern city of Curitiba has been undergoing major renovations since it was selected as a playing venue for the World Cup.

But despite it being opened in May, the stadium pitch is not ready for Tuesday's Group B match between Australia and Spain.

This is the entrance to Curitiba's World Cup Stadium. Clearly a rush to be ready in time... #SBSWorldCup pic.twitter.com/Ooxm0fTqGk

— Brett Mason (@BrettMasonNews) June 22, 2014Concerns over pitch heat lamps prevented both the Socceroos and Spain from training at the 40,000-seat stadium over recent days.

But the temporary setback has not dampened the spirits of the Socceroos, with Craig Moore tweeting that team morale is high ahead of Tuesday's match.

Complaints about the beat-up condition of the pitch have become more vociferous following the Honduras v Ecuador match and the Iran v Nigeria game.

The churning up on the pitch has been compared to a potato field and labelled a disgrace by football fans watching the matches.