By Karolos Grohmann
GDANSK, June 24 (Reuters) – Germany captain Philipp Lahm is
hoping the Warsaw stadium roof will remain open for their Euro
2012 semi-final on Thursday to ensure cooler temperatures when
they bid to book a spot in the final.
The roof had been shut for the tournament opener between
co-hosts Poland and Greece, creating a humid greenhouse
temperature and atmosphere that was not to every player’s
liking.
“We are playing an open-air sport so I would wish it stays
open to get some fresh air in,” Lahm told reporters on Sunday.
“I don’t like it when it is too hot.”
“At the end of the day it is not me who makes that decision
though.”
The Germans will take on Italy or England, who play later on
Sunday, in their fourth consecutive semi-final at a major
tournament.
European soccer’s governing body has said it will seek to
keep the roof open for the rest of the tournament after a
much-criticised decision to close it ahead of the opening match
due to a thunderstorm.
Polish media and officials complained that humid conditions
in the stadium contributed to their team’s poor second-half
performance in a 1-1 draw.
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
