Alan Shearer has performed a U-turn on his stance regarding hydration breaks at the World Cup, admitting they helped England secure a 2-1 victory over DR Congo in the round of 32. The former England striker, who had previously labelled the breaks as 'nonsense', acknowledged that the stoppage allowed manager Thomas Tuchel to adjust tactics and turn the game around.
England's Comeback Victory
England fell behind after just seven minutes when Brian Cipenga scored for DR Congo. The Three Lions struggled to create chances until the first hydration break in the 25th minute. Tuchel used the three-minute stoppage to deliver tactical instructions, and England improved significantly after the restart. Harry Kane equalised in the 75th minute and scored again in the 86th to seal a 2-1 win, booking England's place in the last 16 against Mexico.
Shearer's Change of Heart
Speaking on The Rest is Football, Shearer said: 'In the first 25 minutes, everywhere was poor, they came out slow, looked lethargic, tired, and I couldn't quite understand why. And as much as we criticised the hydration breaks, it worked perfectly for England because we would've been in trouble if that hadn't happened. He was able to settle everyone down, get his point across, tell them to get into forward options quicker, tell wingers to take players on and they created chances after that. I mean, they never had a shot on target in the first 20-25 minutes.'
Previous Criticism
Earlier in the tournament, Shearer had criticised the hydration breaks, calling them 'nonsense' during England's group match against Ghana. He argued that the breaks were used for adverts rather than player welfare, especially in air-conditioned stadiums. 'For players' safety, when it's too hot, yes, absolutely have a hydration break. But, for example, England's game was air-conditioned. 21C. Perfect temperature with a roof over. So, there is absolutely no need for players' welfare to have a hydration break. We all know what they're for. We all know why they have brought them in. And the vast majority of time, unfortunately, it's not for player welfare. It's for adverts,' Shearer told BetFair.
Tournament Rules and Future Events
The three-minute breaks are used in every game of this year's World Cup, regardless of weather. However, UEFA has confirmed that for Euro 2028, hydration breaks will only be introduced on a match-by-match basis if the temperature exceeds a certain threshold. England's next match is against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium at 1am on Monday morning.
