World Cup 2026: Did hydration breaks help England turn knockout tie around?

Before the first hydration break England’s statistics – as well as their performance – were poor.

They had zero shots and touches inside box before the break, but improved afterwards with eight shots and 20 touches in the area by half-time.

It was a similar story in the second half, where the hydration break seemed to prompt an upturn in England’s performance.

They had two shots on goal and seven touches in the box before the three-minute break but then six shots and 13 touches after, with Kane scoring the two crucial goals.

During both hydration breaks, Tuchel gathered his team around him and was animated in giving instructions, with the players nodding their head in agreement at what was being said.

“I make the most of it,” said Tuchel. “You know I don’t really love them.

“I enjoy football more when it plays out with momentum and players and teams have to find their way into it in these kind of momentums. It is a free-flowing game that is more interrupted than I thought.

“But they are here, why would I not try and take advantage? I felt today it was easier today to speak to players, they were very calm, very receptive.

“Sometimes the water breaks can be a bit chaotic, everyone tries to encourage, everyone has a message, everyone tries to help.

“I felt them quite calm and quite focused in the key moments.”

England pushed more players forward after the second hydration break, were finding more space on the flanks and played with more urgency as DR Congo visibly tired.

“At times it can sort of change the momentum and give you a bit of time to breathe,” added forward Eberechi Eze.

“Of course, we were on the better side of it this time, but it’s part of the game.”