Are Hydration Breaks Killing Momentum in Games?

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"Every time it goes into a commercial break... I don't like it"

Dutch skipper Virgil Van Dijk certainly has made his opinion clear on this issue. Are hydration breaks a bad idea?

This issue seems to be a catch 22 in many ways. If a side plays in very hot conditions, then a hydration break seems necessary due to the risk of heat stroke.

If there was no hydration breaks and someone suffered something like heat stroke; I am sure Van Dijk would be critical of there not being hydration breaks.

Where this rule makes no sense is when it isn't hot of course. But this rule is likely applied to all to cover the backs of the hosts nations. Because if other teams got a chance to hydrate, rest, and talk tactics twice a game this could be perceived as an unfair advantage across the tournament as a whole.

There's no question a part USA hosted tournament was going to be far more commercial than other places around the world. It's just the culture in the USA, it's a business first.

This kind of mentality and culture has certainly left a bad taste in many fans and players mouths, but at the end of the day they cannot please everyone and regardless of what decision was made someone is always going to complain.

Therefore, in my opinion it is a bit of a pain and seems wrong, but considering some of the matches are played in very hot conditions, it's an annoying but fair decision.