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Gathered around a laptop, the USMNT create their World Cup journey’s first memeable moment

Mauricio Pochettino used a mid-half water break to do an impromptu video session, adding yet another wrinkle to a controversial rule change

Gathered around a laptop, the USMNT create their World Cup journey’s first memeable moment

TL;DR

  • USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino used a mid-half break to conduct an on-the-spot video analysis session with players using a laptop.
  • Pochettino claims to be a pioneer of this practice, first implementing it in 2009.
  • The mid-half breaks are a new FIFA rule for the World Cup, intended for player safety in hot conditions, but also seen as a coaching opportunity by managers.
  • While players cannot leave the field during these breaks, the exact rules for on-field interaction are still being clarified.
  • Soccer purists, including Pochettino, express reservations about these breaks, believing they disrupt the natural flow of the game.