At this summer’s World Cup, teams will be able to take designated hydration doses during matches to combat sweltering temperatures – even manager Thomas Tuchel is a fan.
Thomas Tuchel is a fan of water breaks, but was prevented from using them against Uruguay
Manager Thomas Tuchel insisted water breaks at the World Cup were a good idea, but revealed Uruguay had stopped using them at Wembley.
France coach Didier Deschamps this week expressed his opposition to the idea of canceling matches in the summer midway through the first half to allow players to rehydrate.
Deschamps insisted it was a bad idea, even in North America’s scorching heat and conditions, as it could halt the flow and momentum of the match.
But Tuchel is in favor of it, even if he insists it will change the course of the match during the tournament. He also plans to use them as an opportunity to talk to and coach his players.
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England manager Tuchel said: “I think I like them. I can talk to the players. If I can spend some quality time with the players, I can encourage them and make a difference.”
“Would it change the game? Yes, 100%. Almost a quarter. This time we asked for a water break and Uruguay refused it. They didn’t want to give us a water break.”
“It gives us a chance to interact, but also give our opponents a little bit of advice and encouragement. I think we need that, and as a coach I’m going to take advantage of that.”
Thomas Tuchel happy with Adam Wharton’s contribution
Meanwhile, Tuchel praised the contribution of Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, who came on as a substitute at half-time against Uruguay and proved he can play against higher-ranked teams.
Tuchel added: “He gave what he gave. There were some very good moments. When he came on, we wanted to run more centrally with him. But he also had some important balance on both sides of the story.
“We need these tests to really see how we play against the top players in midfield, because only then will we know. And this is what we got.”
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