Marcelo Bielsa verbally dismantles hydration breaks and their impact on football in viral rant

Marcelo Bielsa may have summed up the controversy surrounding hydration breaks at the World Cup perfectly.

Three-minute hydration breaks are being used midway through each half during the tournament as part of FIFA's commitment to player welfare.

Referees stop matches in the 22nd minute and 67th minute to allow both teams to rehydrate. The introduction of hydration breaks caused controversy, with fans expressing their displeasure before the tournament.

It's only increased over the past 10 days. Supporters in the stadiums across the USA, Mexico and Canada now boo hydration breaks whenever the referee gestures for them to commence.

Even broadcasters are starting to call it out. BBC commentator Steve Wilson received attention during Thursday's 1-1 draw between the Czech Republic and South Africa, claiming that we 'all knew why' hydration breaks were happening.

Many have suggested hydration breaks are ploys to keep broadcasters happy. It offers more opportunities for commercial breaks, although UK broadcasters have refrained from that.

What is undeniable is the impact they're having on games. On several occasions, momentum shifts after hydration breaks, which is a positive and a negative for all 48 teams on the continent.

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Bielsa finally addresses hydration breaks at the World Cup

Uruguay manager Bielsa, a well-known student of the game, decided to discuss hydration breaks for the first time ahead of Sunday's clash with Cape Verde.

The 70-year-old said they 'add nothing' to games and change the entire fabric of football as a contest.

He said: "Playing four halves instead of two alters the conception that had been culturally constructed to interpret football.

"It adds nothing and takes away a lot. When it was divided into four, no thought was given to the effect it might have on what made football a sport that captivates people, but rather to another type of repercussions that I neither discuss nor analyse.

"Before this decision, football had one characteristic; now it has another. People fall in love with the game because of its characteristics."

Other notable names to speak out are Virgil van Dijk, with the Netherlands defender admitting it interrupted the flow of games he watched as a spectator.

Van Dijk admitted: "Hydration breaks are a bit interesting, because I was obviously watching almost all the games up until today, and every time going to a commercial is a bit ... Not really that I like it.

"I think for the neutral watchers on TV it's also not great. If it's really hot, obviously, it would be good to put them in. But I think you have to look at it in every game, separately, in my opinion. But I think I've said enough already for that."

Meanwhile, England full-back Nico O'Reilly admitted they could be useful as a means to receive tactical information from the coaching staff.