- England manager Thomas Tuchel has criticised the compulsory hydration breaks introduced at this summer’s World Cup.
- Tuchel stated that the three-minute breaks, enforced at the halfway point of each half, "take away" from the "beautiful game" and interrupt its flow.
- He believes the breaks change the "identity" and "characteristic" of a football match, effectively breaking it into four quarters.
- Despite acknowledging the utility for coaches to convey information, Tuchel prefers matches to be played continuously to allow momentum to build naturally.
- The breaks are applied universally, even in games where high temperatures are not a factor, such as England's upcoming match against Ghana, which is forecast for rain.
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