Croatia’s preparations for their forthcoming World Cup Group 8 qualifiers against Iceland and Malta later this month were hampered yesterday when the scheduled friendly against Austria in Vienna had to be called off.

“The pitch at the Ernst Happel stadium is frozen and is covered in ice and unplayable,” Austria team spokesman Wolfgang Eichler said yesterday.

“Following the latest cold snap with temperatures below minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees F), the referee’s inspection proved the pitch was too dangerous to play on,” Eichler said.

Austria coach Hans Krankl and Croatia captain Nico Kovac both said the field resembled an ice rink.

The Happel stadium does not have a heating system on the field, but the city of Vienna, which runs the soccer ground, has said that such a system will be installed.

The match also was to be Austria’s final warmup before its World Cup qualifying matches against Group 6 rival Wales at the end of March.