Virgil van Dijk criticizes World Cup hydration breaks after Netherlands draw

After the Netherlands' 2-2 draw with Japan, Virgil van Dijk expressed his disapproval of the new hydration breaks being implemented in World Cup games. He stated that while such breaks can be beneficial in extreme heat, they should be assessed individually for each match rather than applied uniformly. The discussion surrounding the breaks has generated considerable debate, yet it did not appear to disrupt the flow of the intense game between the Netherlands and Japan. This match was critical as, so far, only Sweden has secured a victory in Group F, leaving the Netherlands and Japan in a competitive position.

• 8:25 AMYahoo Sports — Van Dijk says he ‘doesn’t like’ World Cup hydration breaks and commercials