I’m thoroughly enjoying these hydration breaks sponsored by Powerade. We should definitely have more of them in the future.
12 Jun 2026
588
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You can put your mind back together...it's not like he had to particularly dash to get there. Although for him it does count as 'brave'.
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Trying to decide how much irony was behind playing Living On A Prayer (we're half way there) for that advertising hydration break.
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Where's the fun in that?
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I can already hear his post match interview in my not particularly put back together brain - 'at this level, you have to be brave. In the moments. And do the things that are differcult. And we done that. And we will take the momentum wiv us. Whilst knowing we have to be braver. Going forward'.
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I'm going to go with none at all. Americans and irony, nah.
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I'm aware of the reaction that this is going to get, but I actually quite like the hydration breaks. A number of times in this tournament it has enabled a manager to make strategic changes that have impacted the game and enabled his team to respond - it's just a formalization of the patented Matz Sels 68th minute injury / cramp break.
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I can't even.
This guy.
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It probably wouldn't make it into my top twenty things they've fucked up in the last ten years, but let's not pretend it's a good development for the integrity of football as a game.
Handy to order a round, some wings, have a piss break, and check out the latest medication being punted into the market, while putting a few cheeky Shadys on.
It's all very well while the well appointed stadium multiplex is flogging you twenty sheets beer in plastic, and five notes chocolate bars, but it's not so great when you are playing pinxton on a Sunday morning and want to get home before their mates wake up and decide they want to kill you for their lunchtime entertainment.
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See, I know you're not opposed to innovation in football, some quite radical, given your advocacy for many years of independent timekeeping and rolling subs, and I do understand and to some extent agree with the argument that hydration breaks are just an excuse for more commercials. But would you at least concede that the strategic value to teams adds some interest? To be clear, I'm absolutely not advocating that it should be introduced into domestic football, or even that it should be used ever again. I just think it adds an interesting sporting angle, even if it wasn't intended.
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Portugal v Croatia next Thursday in Toronto is going to be incredible. Two decent but flawed teams each built around legendary players at the very end of their careers, with huge local fanbases in the city (we have one of the largest Croatian populations of any city outside Croatia, and for some reason a massive amount of people whose heritage is Portuguese due to immigration in the 50s and 60s). Those tickets are going to be insanely expensive.
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HOLY FUCK THE END TO THIS ALGERIA V AUSTRIA GAME
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Many people predicted a draw, but NOT LIKE THAT
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An innovation that definitely help the bigger teams regroup when they’re having an unexpected bad day against a minnow. Nope, let them work it out for themselves or flounder until half time like they always have.
Carry on with this and the next logical step is giving each player a personal headset so they can be coached as they play.
