Hydration breaks have become the pantomime villain of this World Cup.
England fans actually loudly booed the intervals against Croatia, while players and managers have called out the three-minute pauses 22 minutes into each half.
The mandatory rule, which has prompted a growing backlash, has been accused of being a contrived way of turning football into four quarters to benefit US broadcasters who can make more money off additional commercials.
It was rolled out by FIFA across the board to "prioritise player welfare" in an identical way across a tournament when humidity is an issue and temperatures often reach the high 20s (°C) and often higher. However, the practice appears farcical in games featuring less intense conditions and in air-conditioned stadiums.
