Tuchel Criticizes World Cup Hydration Breaks Before England's 2nd Group L Match
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 23
Tuchel Criticizes World Cup Hydration Breaks Before England's 2nd Group L Match
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 23
Summary
Thomas Tuchel said mandatory World Cup hydration breaks disrupt football's rhythm and "break the match almost in four quarters" ahead of England's Wednesday game against Ghana in Boston.
The 52-year-old England coach said he accepts breaks when extreme heat makes them necessary, but argued using them in every match changes the sport's identity and makes momentum harder to build or sustain.
Fifa will still use the breaks in Boston despite forecasts for rain and cool temperatures, and England fans already jeered a first-half stoppage during the opening win over Croatia in air-conditioned Dallas.
The policy has become a wider tournament flashpoint as organizers balance player welfare, commercial demands and match flow; Fifa already dropped a second-half break in France's 3-0 win over Iraq after a weather delay.