England head coach Thomas Tuchel has admitted he is not a fan of the hydration breaks being used at the World Cup, saying they have altered the rhythm and identity of matches.
Tuchel made the comments ahead of England's second Group L clash against Ghana in Boston on Wednesday, despite cooler conditions and rain being forecast.
England supporters voiced their frustration during the team's opening match against Croatia in Dallas, jeering when play was stopped for a hydration break, even though the game was played in an air-conditioned stadium.
The breaks will continue to be implemented in Boston regardless of the weather, but Tuchel believes they significantly disrupt the flow of matches.
“I think it interrupts and changes the identity of a football match much more than I thought,” Tuchel said.
“I had hydration breaks before when it was really, really hot and needed, but they were shorter. Here, it is done in every match for every team in the interests of fairness.
“It almost breaks the match into four quarters, and I think it changes the character of the game more than I expected.”
