When the group stage match between England and Ghana was put on hold for at "hydration break" after 22 minutes, loud boos rang out from the stands of Boston Stadium. The players trudged to the sidelines, and the coaches gathered their teams around them for brief tactical instructions. Just a few days into the World Cup, it had already become clear; no change is polarizing the fans quite like these mandatory interruptions in play.
"As a coach, I would have loved it," Jürgen Klopp told DW. A few extra minutes for tactical instructions give a team a clear advantage.
However, the former Liverpool and Dortmund manager also voiced criticism.
"There is a problem with the length of the water breaks and what TV broadcasters or FIFA do during them."
From heat protection to a bone of contention
