‘Football is being held hostage’: Legendary manager Jurgen Klopp rages at ‘Super Bowl moment’ — World Cup Daily

Legendary former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has teed off on one of the most controversial issues so far this World Cup.

Across the opening three matchdays, the three-minute hydration breaks around the 22-minute mark of each half have been widely ridiculed.

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With temperatures not excessive at several games, the move to effectively turn World Cup matches into a game of quarters has drawn outrage from football fans the world over.

FIFA announced in December that the hydration breaks would be in effect in all matches regardless of weather conditions.

It is obvious that it has been a clear money grab from the governing body.

During the opening game of the tournament between Mexico and South Africa, viewers missed the restart of live play as advertisements played - breaking the rule that broadcasters must return from commercials 30 seconds before play resumes.

After such instances it is clear why ITV’s managing director of commercial Kelly Williams called the tournament television advertising’s “six-week summer Super Bowl moment”.

Klopp has now shared fans’ concerns with a scathing assessment of the hydration breaks on German television.

“Football is being held hostage by executives ensconced in air-conditioned offices,” he said on ZDF.

The 58-year-old, who won both the Premier League and the Champions League as Liverpool boss, said the measure had been presented as a “shield for player wellbeing, a noble sword against the heat”, but is “nothing more than a gilded cage built for sponsors.”

“A World Cup match should flow like a river,” he added.

“Instead, we’re building dams right in the middle so that advertisements can pass through. It’s dangerous for the spirit of the game.

“Football used to be the main event, but now it risks becoming the background music for an advertising spectacle.”

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ENGLAND GET THEIR STUFF BACK

England goalkeeper Dean Henderson said he had his boots back after training equipment was stolen ahead of the squad’s arrival at their World Cup training base on Saturday.

Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas earlier put out a statement on the “heist”. He said officials at “local, state and federal levels” were investigating the theft from vehicles transferring equipment from England’s training camp in Florida.

But is understood most of the items have now been recovered. Henderson was asked after England’s first training session at Swope Soccer Village whether he had lost his boots.

“I think I did, but I got them back, so it’s all good,” said the Crystal Palace goalkeeper.

“I think they got everything back, so it’s all good.” Defender Dan Burn was relaxed about the episode.

“Obviously it was to do with the police,” he said. “So I don’t know how much people know about it. We didn’t know a lot about it, but I’ve got all my kit and all my boots.” Thomas Tuchel’s England, among the favourites to win the World Cup, had a gentle training session in front of scores of watching fans on Saturday.

They open their World Cup campaign against Croatia on Wednesday, before further games in Group L against Ghana and Panama.

40-YEAR-OLD TO END TWO-YEAR ABSENCE

Manuel Neuer will start in goal for Germany against Curacao in his fifth World Cup, coach Julian Nagelsmann said on Saturday.

“All the players are fit and Manu will start,” Nagelsmann said at his pre-match press conference.

The game Sunday against the World Cup debutants will be the 40-year-old goalkeeper’s first appearance for Germany for nearly two years.

Neuer won the last of his 124 international caps in a Euro 2024 quarter-final defeat by Spain.

Nagelsmann brought him out of international retirement after he helped Bayern win the Bundesliga title and reach the Champions League semi-finals last season.

The 2014 World Cup-winner had to nurse a calf injury in the build-up to the 2026 tournament and played no part in the 4-0 friendly win against Finland and the 2-0 victory against the USA.

Neuer’s inclusion leaves Oliver Baumann, who has largely been Germany’s number one in the last two years, on the bench.

COACH’S HONEST REVEAL OVER WORLD CUP HEARTBREAK

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu on Saturday described Wataru Endo as “hurt” and apologised after torpedoing the captain’s World Cup dreams on the eve of the tournament.

The Liverpool midfielder abruptly announced on Thursday that his international career was over, having failed to recover from injury ahead of Japan’s opening match of the tournament against the Netherlands in Dallas on Sunday.

Moriyasu, who has said his goal is to take Japan to World Cup glory in North America, said it had been his call that the 33-year-old should not be involved following a foot injury.

Endo made his Japan debut in 2015 and retires with 73 caps, having scored four goals for his country.

“I ultimately looked at whether he can perform or not, and remain in the team or not. I was the one that made the final decision,” Moriyasu, who appeared emotional, told reporters at the air-conditioned stadium in Dallas that is home to NFL team the Dallas Cowboys.

“When I communicated the message to Wataru... I felt really bad to tell him such a message.

“Of course it’s impossible to know exactly how he felt or to know what his thoughts were, but he was very understanding and respectful.

“Of course he was hurt. The family members and all the people that he loves, and even the supporters or other people who were supporting him... they were hurt as well.

“I really would like to apologise sincerely to them personally. “For the team and also for the country, that decision had to be made. It was tough.” Japan have been tipped to go far in the World Cup for the first time, having impressed in beating England at Wembley in the lead-up to the competition.

Moriyasu backed his talented squad not to dwell on the absence of Endo and injured Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma.

“When the unexpected happens we have to make sure we are not upset or shocked too much,” said the coach, who masterminded group-stage wins over Spain and Germany at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, before going out to Croatia on penalties in the last 16.

He added: “We could be considered a dark horse, but to do that we have to break the shells off of what we have been hiding in and try to go to the limit.” Also in a tight-looking Group F are Tunisia and Sweden.

EX-MAN UTD STAR SET TO OVERCOME INJURY CLOUD

Memphis Depay is fit to start the Netherlands’ tasty World Cup opener against Japan in Dallas on Sunday, coach Ronald Koeman said, calling the attacker “a key part” of their title charge.

Depay, the Netherlands’ all-time top goalscorer with 55 goals, is short of match fitness having only returned in May from a two-month injury-enforced absence.

The 32-year-old Corinthians forward has endured a difficult year with form and fitness, but Koeman hinted he will start against a dangerous Japan in the impressive air-conditioned Dallas stadium that is usually home to NFL team the Dallas Cowboys.

Koeman, who said he has already told his squad the starting XI, did not use Depay in the 2-1 friendly win over Uzbekistan this week.

He did though play a half of the 1-0 defeat to Algeria at the start of June. “Memphis is fit. He would be able to start the game,” said the former international defender Koeman.

“He has progressed well, so things are looking good.

“He is an important player. He has been so for a very long time, and he is a key part to our possible success in this World Cup.”

Winger Crysencio Summerville is also in strong contention.

He enjoyed a good season with West Ham, despite their relegation from the Premier League, and Koeman said he gives the Dutch something different.

“We don’t have many players who perform well on the right-hand side but prefer the left-hand side,” said the 63-year-old.

“And so he completes the team. There’s a chance that he plays tomorrow.” The Dutch have been World Cup runners-up three times and are fancied to go far again in North America.

However, they come into the tournament missing several key players with injury, including Tottenham attacker Xavi Simons and Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber.

Koeman knows the nation expects even if they are below full strength. “There is always pressure,” he said.

“The Netherlands may not be a very large country geographically, but it is a country that is always present on big tournaments and we put a lot of pressure on ourselves.”

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