The Football.....

[matticus]

No, the hydration breaks destroyed the game time after time - that's not just because coaches could speak to the team, it's because football is a game of stamina and a game of momentum, of seizing opportunities when you can get the opposition on the back foot. They should only be allowed in exceptional circumstances

It's also a winter sport. (and no, I don't care that WCs are always in summer - 20 wrongs don't make a right!) If it's hot enough, 4x23mins is still a test of stamina - most world cups matches are played at walking pace compared to a cold wet night at Stoke.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

If Infantino carries on the way he's going, I can see UEFA pulling out of FIFA and we'll just have biennial EUROs.

Or forming Football Mondial and having a world championship every four years.

 

[Dave7]

No, the hydration breaks destroyed the game time after time - that's not just because coaches could speak to the team, it's because football is a game of stamina and a game of momentum, of seizing opportunities when you can get the opposition on the back foot. They should only be allowed in exceptional circumstances

A half hour break is also unfair on the players - that's long enough for muscles to cool down and stiffen up. 15 minutes is fine and shouldn't have been messed around with.

I agree with you about the 30 minutes at half time but for most** matches i think the hydration break was essential. 40° is not to be messed with, even the fittest could die when running around for 90+ minutes.
**maybe not the air conditioned stadiums

 

[Pblakeney]

I agree with you about the 30 minutes at half time but for most** matches i think the hydration break was essential. 40° is not to be messed with, even the fittest could die when running around for 90+ minutes.
**maybe not the air conditioned stadiums

That is where it was shown to be the commercial break that it was.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

I agree with you about the 30 minutes at half time but for most** matches i think the hydration break was essential. 40° is not to be messed with, even the fittest could die when running around for 90+ minutes.
**maybe not the air conditioned stadiums

That's why I said "in exceptional circumstances". 40C is pretty exceptional in my book.

Also though - if you do have to have a hydration break for exceptional heat, then about a minute is long enough. Three minutes is taking the proverbial.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

In quite a few matches the temperature got nowhere near thirty degrees, which should be the threshold for a break.

God help us if the TdF ever started in the States, the riders would have to stop every half hour for an ad break.

 

[Rusty Nails]

That's why I said "in exceptional circumstances". 40C is pretty exceptional in my book.

Also though - if you do have to have a hydration break for exceptional heat, then about a minute is long enough. Three minutes is taking the proverbial.

And/or do not allow managers or coaches on the pitch to use them as opportunities to change tactics. Water could easily be brought on while the players stand in groups on the pitch.

 

[Alex321]

Pitiful watching Trump having to be almost physically dragged away from his efforts to 'be in the photo' when the team that had won the World Cup was assembled to take the photo of the team that won the World Cup. The President of the United States of America: all the grace, class, and self-awareness of an eight-year-old full of jam doughnuts

Really?

THAT much grace etc?