When Fifa announced in December it was introducing mandatory three-minute hydration breaks “regardless of weather conditions”, few took much notice.
After all, it was anticipated temperatures would be high and player welfare is a priority.
So far, heat has not been an issue. Three of the opening four games were played at temperatures just above 20C. Canada’s draw with Bosnia in Toronto – which was played in the afternoon – was higher at 26C.
It was similar to temperatures in Chicago last July, when West Ham played Bournemouth in a Premier League Summer Series match and then Hammers boss Graham Potter – now in charge of Sweden, who open their World Cup campaign against Tunisia in Monterrey on Sunday night local time (Monday, 03:00 BST) – was dismissive of the hydration breaks used then.
“I have no idea why there was a water break,” Potter said at the time. “Somebody needs to tell me why that was the case. I assumed there wasn’t going to be one because I came out with a jumper.”
Speaking before his side’s impressive 4-1 win against Paraguay in Los Angeles, USA coach Mauricio Pochettino was also dubious about the benefits.
“I don’t like it,” he said. “I only like it when the conditions are extreme, but when the conditions are good, it is unnecessary.”
Coaches are allowed to offer tactical instructions. Ifab rules state the use of electronic devices is permitted “where it directly relates to player welfare or safety or for tactical/coaching reasons”, stipulating only that the device must be small.
However, there may be another benefit – a financial one.
It has been noticed broadcasters are using the gaps to run commercials, although US network Fox has been criticised for not returning to the action before the opening game between Mexico and South Africa restarted.
“They’re doing it for safety reasons, but in effect we’re playing quarters now, which I find strange,” said Jagielka.
“It’s literally play for 25 minutes and stop for little bit of a break.
“I understand it – there’s going to be a lot of football, a lot of minutes. You need to prevent people pulling muscles and allow them to get the hydration in.
“But does it need to be three minutes? How long does it take? It could be a minute.”
Whatever the precise reasons for the breaks, and whether they are needed physically or not, Jagielka feels coaches can derive huge benefits from them, especially if a team is underperforming.
“That three minutes could be massive,” he said. “If your team’s not doing well, and it’s a loud stadium, it’s nigh on impossible to get messages on [to players].
“If you’re a manager or coach, you’ll be delighted because you can get the lads together and be quickly firing as much information into them as possible.
“I’d say it’s more important than half-time. Obviously, at half-time you might be able to show things on a camera or have a bigger view of tactically what’s going on, but, especially if your team’s not doing great, you could literally turn a game around in that break with what can go on in those three minutes.”
