I call BS. Not on you of course but on FIFA claiming this. Everyone could be treated same if the just made a simple rule: If “feels like” temp is above X degrees then there is a hydration break. Otherwise no break. Everyone following same rule, so it’s fair. Feels like follows a precise formula combining temp, humidity and wind so it is objective. The only possible objection would be this. Say cutoff is 80F. Team A plays game at temp 79 and gets no break. Team B plays in 80 degree game, gets breaks. Team A and Team B meet next game. Team B is more rested? Nah.. that doesn’t fly. It’s mandatory because it’s more profitable- end of story. IMO.
exactly this, as if two 3 minute breaks are going to make a difference when one team is playing 90 minutes in 90 degree weather compared to going 90 at 75 degree weather, its gaslighting at its finest. I tuned in to the Spain game late and bam already a hydration break, the players look annoyed and some haven't even broken a sweat and to me it really breaks the flow of the game and I think it breaks the spirit of the game and will also change how teams manage games and it will be a detriment to the sport. it will hurt teams that are dominating games and are on the verge of scoring and help teams that bunker knowing they have to stay strong for 20 minutes plus, take a break and re-group as if the game just started I saw someone comment somewhere else that this is infantino and fifa bastardizing the game to fit american standards, may as well make the game have 4 quarters and fill the down time with ads and propaganda
I don't think the "fairness" was because of the slight break from running, etc. I think the fairness was - one team gets to have 3 minutes to discuss strategy and make adjustments etc. at the mid point of each half and the other teams playing vs. this opponent maybe don't get that. So I do think there is a fairness question to it. But if it also makes FIFA money, then really does anything else matter?
all this time while watching I thought they were playing Cape de Verde, go figure and my speculation on how, is they expanded the WC and gave more slots to lesser known federations, while freezing out the federations with higher quality of teams because everyone has to participate despite the quality. however after this game it sure looks like Cabo Verde deserved to be at the World Cup, Curacao not so much
In Tactics Free Zone, they mentioned that Cape Verde was good enough that they probably would have qualified with only a 32-team WCF. There were 9 groups of 6 in African qualifying and CV won their group with a 7-2-1 record and +8 goal differential.
In Curacao's defense, they did match Brazil's result against Germany in WC 2014. And Curacao didn't have the home field advantage like Brazil did!
I’m going to hold my hand up here. I thought expanding the number of teams in the World Cup was a bad idea, but full credit to the teams that are here because of that expansion. Teams I’m embarrassed to admit come from countries I’ve never heard of. So far they have come to play and they have acquitted themselves nicely.
Loved the press release they put out the other day talking about the growth of the game in their countries in response to a comment from the UEFA prez. It was gorgeous. We were one of those countries once!
Is this a covert shot at Vanney? Not to discredit your point about defense in general or Japan's in particular, but they conceded and fell behind twice. Arguably it was their offense that bailed them out.
General reactions (lots to catch up on): For a tournament held in the Americas, CONMEBOL has underwhelmed so far, having not won a single match. Paraguay got smashed, a Brazil that underwhelmed in qualifying continued to underwhelm, much-touted Ecuador LOST in a very even display with a pretty strong Ivory Coast, Uruguay had to pull out a late goal to tie mighty Saudi Arabia. I hope Argentina continue the trend, but I doubt Messi lets them lose to Algeria. Interestingly, Panama, Curacao and Haiti qualified out of CONCACF as teams 3-6. Curacao went undefeated in their qualifying group, which also consisted of Jamaica, T&T, Bermuda and, while Haiti were 3-2-1 in a group with Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua. I thought both teams played really well, despite their results. Curacao, specifically were emboldened by their goal and felt they could get another one, and probably could've limited damage by bunkering in more. They tried to score until they end.
I give Japan very high marks for defense despite giving up 2 goals. Normally allowing 2 goals = bad D but when the superior opponent has spent 60 of the 90 minutes relentlessly attacking you from 15-25 yards out and you parry wave after wave, yielding only 2 is not bad. Also they kept the Dutch xG metric at 1.49, so the 2 goals were also a testament to the opponent doing a lot with its few chances. More importantly if you watched the D in action it was hard to not be impressed by the fabled “eye test.” Japans offense also needs to be lauded for its “ruthless efficiency.” It seldom had the ball in the attacking third but it really took advantage when it did, scoring twice despite an xG total of only 1.15.
the way Japan played has also come up on Mexican Soccer boards, plenty were lamenting how organized Japan looked and how bad the Mexican system looks compared to how the Japanese system seems to be growing and in their opinions will outpace what Mexico is doing and many were calling for change and it turned into a war of words as usual on the internet, so a lot of other fans from other countries are noticing the way Japanese soccer is being structured and implemented
Bummer...Just learned that Paintsil was left off the Ghanian WC squad. Was looking forward to seeing him play.
I'm kind of mixed on this, sure I'd like to see our club players be on the World stage, and I hate seeing Paintsil being jerked around by his federation with the excuse being there is strong competition from players not in MLS, which at least to me sounds like a slight to the league at least that is how I perceive it, and yes I am a bit biased. on the other hand Paintsil has been too injury prone for my liking this year and I'd prefer he take the time off to train and get healthier and hopefully the snub will motivate him as it will benefit him and the club greatly going forward
Mbappe reminding people he can still shine bright on the World stage. I say this because I saw a few people on the internets say how Vini Jr and Yamane have over taken Mbappe on the international stage, poppycock is what I say about that.
It's more to give me a reason to watch and care about the WC. Overall, agree with your sentiments that it may be better for the Gs that Jo wasn't picked.
I know I look for reasons too, I have the games on as background noise and I've only sat and watched the Mexico and US games because I was with other people but for the most part there hasn't been anything that has glued me to the games, and this coming from a person that used to wake up at 3am past World Cups to watch them live and it doesn't help that these hydration breaks really mess with my enjoyment of the games I lose that immersion in the game as it usually takes me 10-15 minutes of the game time to really focus on play. Its just a me problem at this point
Did you read/hear what the Japanese coach said after the match about the influence of the Dutch on how Japan developed? Edit: After Moriyasu’s press conference was seemingly over, his microphone was turned off and his press officer tried to usher him away, he asked to stay on. The microphone was turned on. “Since we have lots of Dutch journalists here today, I’d like to say something else,” he said, speaking in his native language. “I would like to express my gratitude towards Dutch football — as a national team and especially in my case. When we didn’t have a progressional league (in the early 1990s), Hans Ooft came to Japan and was an excellent coach. So many Japanese players trained and developed under him.” Moriyasu was referencing when Ooft had plucked himself, an unheralded midfielder with seemingly no chance of a professional football career, and turned him into a key part of the national side. “There have been so many Dutch players and managers who have contributed to our football,” he continued, largely speaking to a room full of Dutch journalists who, sadly, hadn’t bothered to listen in on the translation. But it was a fitting final note, at the end of a game with a genuine feel-good vibe. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7361010/2026/06/14/netherlands-japan-world-cup-style-approach/
I agree, although it might have raised his market price considerably if he had blazed by a few defenders on the big stage. I don't necessarily want to sell him, but he was our only player who might have taken advantage of a World Cup bump.