Hydration breaks have quickly become one of the World Cup’s frustrations.
Over the past seven days, supporters have had to get used to referees halting play in the middle of each half to allow players to rehydrate.
The mandatory three-minute breaks – introduced to help players cope with stifling heat – have quickly been exploited by managers.
This has led to the stoppages becoming an annoyance not only for supporters, but also for some managers and players.
United States manager Mauricio Pochettino said he did not like the breaks during his side’s 4-1 win against Paraguay, adding they were “unnecessary” when conditions were tolerable.
One of the main issues is that the hydration breaks are not being used primarily for the purpose for which they were introduced – allowing players to take on water in difficult conditions.
Instead, managers are using the stoppages to pass on tactical instructions, with fresh ideas and plans often changing the momentum of matches almost immediately.
That was the case during Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Morocco last week. The five-time champions were trailing when the hydration break arrived, allowing manager Carlo Ancelotti to pass on new instructions to his players.
Less than 20 minutes later, Brazil had levelled through Vinicius Jr, with Ancelotti later acknowledging the break had helped his side assert control.
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk said the interruptions were frustrating for supporters watching at home.
But, for the millions of fans around the world, hydration breaks appear to be here to stay.
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