ENGLAND manager Thomas Tuchel admits football matches are better WITHOUT the controversial water breaks.
Every half at the World Cup features a three-minute hydration break for players due to the extreme heat at some venues.
Sign up for the Football newsletter
Thank you!
Thomas Tuchel has admitted that he is not a fan of the World Cup hydration breaks Credit: PA
The controversial breaks have been used by coaches as chance to discuss tactics and reset the momentum Credit: Reuters
Yet the German has revealed he completely underestimated the impact the breaks are having on games as they interrupt the flow.
It is also hugely unpopular among fans. Supporters in the stadiums are booing each time the players head over to the touchline to speak to their coaches midway through each half.
Tuchel said: “I think it interrupts and changes the identity of the football match much more than I thought.
“I had, of course, hydration breaks before. They were needed, but they were shorter. They were shorter and they were just in a few matches.
READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP
MO BLOW
Egypt denied entry to US city after World Cup win as statement released
WORLDIE OFFERS
World Cup 2026 free bets and offers: Best new football sign-up deals
“Now it is a point of fairness to every team. Now it breaks the match almost in four quarters. I think it changes the characteristics of the match more than I thought. I like it as a coach, of course, to have influence and have my team together.
“But overall I think I like football more when it’s played in one go. It builds momentum, it’s part of the game.
“It’s hard to build momentum and it’s hard to keep the momentum. It’s just like the battle on the field between the players and the teams.
“It plays out over a longer period of time. It just adds to the characteristic of a beautiful game. This takes away from it. But in terms of fairness, of course it makes sense that everyone gets it.”
WORLD CUP 2026 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS
World Cup 2026 – all the info
LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!
This year’s World Cup is like no other as a record-breaking 48 nations compete to lift football’s biggest prize.
England manager Thomas Tuchel is hoping to finally bring football home after a 60-year drought.
But footballing legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have other plans in what will likely be their final World Cup appearance.
JattvibeSport have got everything you need for the huge tournament
LATEST NEWS
KEY INFO
VIDEO
TIPS AND BETTING
If you click a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue.
England completely lost momentum after the first water break against Croatia when they were leading 1-0.
Ironically, that match was played under a roof and against Ghana here in Boston, the weather will be just 18C with rain also forecast.
At his pre-match press conference, Tuchel also revealed he was happy that FIFA have moved the photographers before the game so he will be able to see his players during the national anthem.
He said: “I will now be able to see my players as we have the protocol right.”
CLICK ON PIC FOR STAR’S PROFILE
After the game in Dallas, an angry Tuchel said: “I have to tell you something. I’m begging FIFA to change the position of the photographers in the national anthem, because I could not see my team in the national anthem.
“And I was waiting for this moment. It was a very, very special moment today, and I was standing in front of a wall of 50 photographers, half a metre away, and I could not see one single player.”
