sports
I don’t like the World Cup hydration breaks but trust me – they help the coaches
Nobody wants more stoppages in the game but it allows us, whether on TV or the touchline, to analyse what we see
TL;DR
- Hydration breaks, while increasing stoppages, offer coaches strategic opportunities and aid broadcast analysis.
- VAR decisions are faster and less disruptive, with welcome changes to mistaken identity and corner decisions.
- New rules make it harder for teams to gain tactical information during goalkeeper treatment.
- The expansion to 48 teams has resulted in increased global competition and strong performances from many nations.
- The World Cup atmosphere is positive, with fans from all nations uniting, and the US is better equipped to grow the game.
- Despite a desire for more ball-in-play time, the overall ball-in-play percentage has slightly increased when accounting for hydration breaks.