ATLANTA (AP) 鈥� Cura莽ao fans . The Germans were in shock.
Livano Comenencia had scored a goal for the smallest nation by population to ever qualify for the against four-time champion Germany.
At 1-1 in Houston a famous upset looked possible.
Then came the .
Cura莽ao lost the initiative, conceding two goals before halftime in what eventually became a defeat to the Germans.
鈥淚 actually felt sorry for them,鈥� former England striker Alan Shearer told The Rest is Football podcast. 鈥淭hey scored and then it was maybe 30 seconds after that it stopped. So it鈥檚 killed their momentum.鈥�
FIFA鈥檚 new hydration breaks midway through each half 鈥� a novelty for this World Cup 鈥� were introduced to help players deal with the in the United States, Canada and Mexico. But critics say they鈥檙e having unintended consequences, ruining the flow of the game and giving coaches a chance to tactically shift momentum in their team鈥檚 favor.
While player welfare is a real concern with temperatures expected to exceed 90 F (32 C) in the hottest World Cup venues, some say the hydration breaks are just an excuse for broadcasters to go to commercials in the middle of the game.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in America, right? So, it鈥檚 like it is it鈥檚 like it鈥檚 a timeout,鈥� former Ireland international Roy Keane said on The Overlap, a podcast that he co-hosts with long-time Manchester United teammate Gary Neville. 鈥淲e love football because of the pace of the game … what it鈥檚 doing is stopping the flow of the game, the momentum.鈥�
A chance for coaches to huddle with the players
Rather than players merely taking on fluids, coaches have been seizing the opportunity to pass on in-game tactical instructions that would normally not be possible. And early indications are that it is having an effect.
鈥淵ou can use the break to tell the players what they need to improve or what is good or what they should do better,鈥� Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said. 鈥淪o you can use it in different ways to your advantage, and this is what we will be doing.鈥�
In eight of the first 16 games there were goals scored within 10 minutes of the rehydration break.
Cura莽ao never recovered after the restart against Germany.
Morocco paid the price against in New Jersey, having dominated the game from the start and scored just before the first break. Less that 10 minutes after play resumed the game was level with Vinicius Junior equalizing.
Canada, the U.S., Australia, Scotland, Sweden and Iran have all benefited with goals soon after the break.
Momentum maps have shown how games have shifted after the new stoppages in play.
The hydration breaks also affect the experience of fans watching the games at stadiums. There were boos from the crowd on the first hydration break in the game Tuesday between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Breaks will be implemented regardless of the weather
Referees pause the games 22 minutes into each half, with players given three minutes to rehydrate.
FIFA stipulated that the breaks would occur regardless of the weather, venue or location, meaning the Spain vs. Cape Verde match in Atlanta on Monday was interrupted despite being under a roof and in an air conditioned stadium.
The governing body said it was to 鈥渆nsure equal conditions for all teams, in all matches.鈥�
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said the breaks make sense in 鈥渆xtreme鈥� heat conditions but questioned whether they were necessary at every match.
鈥淧ause, freshen up and continue. Tomorrow, when the temperature that we鈥檒l have in this stadium is chill, maybe these breaks are not so needed, but we need to abide by the rules,” he said.
Norway coach Staale Solbakken agreed.
鈥淚 can understand it when it鈥檚 like it鈥檚 been in Greensboro (North Carolina), when it鈥檚 been 35 degrees (95 Fahrenheit) and a really hot climate and there鈥檚 a bit vibration in the air 鈥� then I think it鈥檚 fine. But I don鈥檛 like it otherwise. I think it鈥檚 unnecessary,” he said.
Broadcasters cutting to commercials
Aside from the sporting impact on games, the stoppages have been criticized for damaging the spectacle for fans, with broadcasters using the opportunity to take commercial breaks.
In the United States, Fox immediately goes to commercials during the hydration breaks. Telemundo, a Spanish-language U.S. broadcaster, does not.
Unlike in U.S. professional sports like baseball, basketball and football, commercial breaks have not been a common feature in soccer except during the half-time break.
鈥淓very time going to a commercial is a bit … not really (something) that I like,鈥� said Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk, who watched World Cup games on TV before the Dutch began their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Japan. 鈥淚 think for the neutral watchers on TV it鈥檚 also not great.鈥�
France coach Didier Deschamps, however, said this is the changing face of soccer.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not two half times, it is four quarter times basically that we鈥檝e got. This is what鈥檚 been decided and so the players and the coaches adapt to this new reality,鈥� he said.
It is not known if FIFA will implement hydration breaks at all future World Cups, but the English Football Association said it was unlikely to be in place for the European Championship, hosted by the U.K. and Ireland in 2028.
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AP Sports Writers Kyle Hightower in Foxborough, Massachusetts; Ron Blum in New York, Maura Carey in Atlanta and Stephen Hawkins in Dallas contributed to this report.
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