Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni says FIFA’s new hydration breaks are changing the rhythm of World Cup matches in a way that can help the team that is struggling to catch up.
Speaking to reporters in Arlington, Texas, Scaloni argued that the stoppages make games feel broken into separate phases, especially under the heat and the expanded 48-team format. He said the pauses can give the weaker side time to reset and adjust before the second part of each half.
More Stoppages, Less Flow
Scaloni described the matches as increasingly fragmented because FIFA has added three-minute hydration breaks to every game at this summer’s World Cup. The breaks come midway through each half and are used regardless of weather conditions as part of the tournament’s player welfare measures.
“The game is stopped constantly, perhaps it gives a hand to the weaker team because they have time to fix things. They have time to adjust,” Scaloni said, according to www.espn.com.
He also noted the challenge for coaches, saying halftime now leaves only a short window to speak to players between their return to and exit from the field. “It feels strange adapting to this,” he said, adding that the new format should eventually become normal.
Argentina’s Immediate Test
Argentina enters Monday afternoon’s match against Austria at AT&T Stadium after opening with a 3-0 win over Algeria. Austria also has three points after beating Jordan 3-1 in its first Group J match.
Scaloni said the pauses can affect plans in both directions, since they also give attacking sides more time to make corrections. For now, he said the flow of play still feels unusual as teams continue adjusting to the four-period feel of each match.
