"Exactly what football is not": Foster lays into World Cup rule

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World Cup daily news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as the FIFA World Cup 2026™ finally gets under way (All times AEST).

NO HYDRATION FOR AUSSIE LEGEND

The hydration breaks at the World Cup have copped significant criticism so far this tournament with the majority calling it out as a cash grab from FIFA.

Players are obligated to take a hydration break at the midway point of each half at this year's edition of the World Cup, one of many new rules and regulations introduced by FIFA.

Now, Australian football legend Craig Foster has slammed the innovation saying it’s being taken advantage of by teams and coaches in a manner that is detrimental to the sport.

“It’s turned into four quarters,” Foster said on Channel Nine. “It’s been 'Amaeircanised' and they’re making money out of it.

“It should never have been allowed. We have them here because we play through summer but only in extreme heat conditions. It’s short and the idea is you can’t use it as a coaching time.

“Players have to solve problems on the field, do your coaching at half time.

“It shouldn’t be happening.”

Earlier this tournament Foster said: “It’s become a timeout, not just a hydration break. And an advertising insert. Coach interventions, rather than a player-led game. Exactly what football is not.”

He's not alone, USA coach Mauricio Pochettino said: “I don’t like it. I only like it when the conditions are extreme, but when the conditions are good, it is unnecessary.”

HOME TIME FOR TUNISIA

Sure, they have a third group match but it will mean nothing for them. Two matches, two losses and two coaches. Not the World Cup anyone exected from them.

Japan made it four in the 83rd minute. They're going to be causing some upsets in the next stages of this tournament. No reason they can't make the final eight.

And that's the first time they have ever scored four goals at a World Cup.

JAPAN MAKE IT THREE

To be honest I'm surprised they're not 5-0 up at this stage. They have played an incredibly patient game and it was a lovely build up through the midfield, the defence was split and the strike is sublime from Junya Ito. Ruthless.

JAPAN SCORE!

It's gone from bad to worse for Tunisia as Japan double their lead through Ayasa Ueda.

As things stand Tunisia are crashing out of the World Cup.

HEARTBREAK PUSHING TEEN SENSATION

Every player at the World Cup has their “why”.

Their inspiration. The person or people that are driving them to be their best.

For the Ivory Coast’s teen sensation Yan Diomande it’s his little sister who tragically died a year ago after her drink was spiked.

Paying a beautiful tribute to her in an open letter published on the Players Tribune, he wrote: “You were the one who never stopped believing. A few weeks later, I signed for Leganés and we cried different tears.

“That was back when I used to have emotions. Now, I don’t feel anything. It’s like I’m not even human. Since you died, I’m just blank.

“I don’t even think I shed a tear the day they told me that you were gone. I was just in shock.

“It was a few weeks after I made my debut for Leganés. Who makes their debut at 18 against Real Madrid? It was too crazy. It was a dream.

“And then it was a nightmare. Someone kept calling me from back home. I was annoyed. I didn’t understand why they kept calling me.

“I picked up, and they didn’t even soften it. You know how it is back home. No emotions. Just……..

‘Your sister is gone.’

‘What?’

‘She died.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘Somebody put something in her drink at a party, and she never woke up. She is gone.’

“You were 15.

“15.

“I never got any answers. I don’t know if I want to know why. Maybe it was jealousy. Maybe it’s just something that happens in our country. Maybe I could have protected you. I don’t know.

“I try to trust God’s plan. It’s all I can do. I don’t try to forget, because I know I won’t forget. All I can do is use the pain to work harder, and to do everything we dreamed about.

“I wrote this because I can’t speak about it. I wrote this because I want you to know that I will make sure that you live on. I will make sure that everybody knows your name. The whole world.

“Everything I do on a football pitch, it’s for you.”

JAPAN OPEN THE SCORING!

A nightmare start for Tunisia who are enduring a dismal World Cup.

They've already sacked their coach after being thumped 5-1 by Sweden and now they're a goal down after just five minutes thanks to Daichi Kamada.

It was scrappy in the box and that's the fastest ever World Cup goal for Japan.

HISTORY FOR CURACAO

Against all odds Curacao have held on to secure a point in a goalless draw against Ecuador. A massive upset ad a historic result for the smallest country to ever play in a World Cup.

Their goalkeeper Eloy Room will be a national hero back home after an incredible performance.

Tears on the field. They came here knowing how much they were the nuderdogs and after a 7-1 flogging by Germany that was an unreal result for them.

They were lucky not to have a penalty go against them in the final minute but VAR ruled no spot kick.

History. This is what the World Cup is about.

HOLLAND INJURY SCARES

Virgil Van Dijk is under an injury cloud after a heavy collision in his side's 5-1 thumping of Tunisia today left him with no feeling in his leg.

“I took a hard hit to my hip and I couldn’t feel my upper leg anymore, so that was a little bit crazy. But it was probably just a pinched nerve.

“I think it is not too bad, but we will see shortly.”

The 34-year-old is not the only question mark with Frenkie de Jong sustaining an issue at training.

“We had a collision at training, and I was also involved in that. I had sustained some damage from it, but in the end, it was okay. We’re going to see what the reaction will be, but I have confidence in it.”

Netherlands play Tunisia in their final group match on Friday.

"HAD A STINKER"

Plenty has been said about the sub par performances of the Socceroos and the officials that oversaw their 2-0 defeat to the USA on Saturday.

A disappointing opening half and some surprise selection calls from Tony Popovic left Australia 0-2 down at half-time and despite a significantly improves second term, the officials made some incredible calls (and ignored a fair few) and now the players have taken aim.

Nestory Irankunda, whose heroics helped the Socceroos to a 2-0 win over Turkiye in the opening clash, was the victim of some very heavy blows from Team USA and had a clear penalty denied. “The ref was having a stinker today,” Irankunda said of Felix Zwayer .

“But it is what it is. He was giving every call to the USA. I get it, but, at the same time, there’s two teams on the field, so you have to give the calls both ways. And he didn’t do that today.”

Irankunda wasn’t alone in his criticism with Popovic also suggesting (diplomatically) that the ref didn’t “have the best of days”.

SEN’s Adam Peacock was less delicate in his review.

“The ref was guessing a lot of the time, which frustrated everyone,” he said on The Global Game. “He wasn’t quite sure of himself. I just felt that he was guessing a lot of the time, which frustrated the players. They were getting really annoyed, frustrated.

“They were getting some calls, not all. On another day, we get a couple of penalties, but this is not another day, it’s a one-off day at a World Cup game.”

HAMSTRING HEARTBREAK

Not something you ever want to see at a World Cup, Wilfried Singo came form the field and burst into tears. A hamstring injury it seems and it looks like something that could end his tournament.

The Ivory Coast star came off second best in a contest with Kai Havertz and as he left the field he slumped into a chair and was visibly very emotional. That looks like it's World Cup over.

It would be a huge blow for the Ivory Coast if they went into the latter stages of the tournament.

A hammer blow to Ivory Coast in the 90th minutes as Germany somehow find the back of the net and take the lead.

Seems insane to write but it's true, for the first time since 2014, Germany will advance to the knockout stage of a World Cup.

BOZZA COME SOUT SWINGING

After Australia's 2-0 loss to the USA, SEN's Mark Bosnich says th egae was lost before the first whistle went because of Tony Popovic's selection mistakes.

Despite scoring in Australia's incredible opening win over Türkiye, Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe were both benched for the first half of the USA clash - much to the frustration of fans and experts.

Both came on for the second half and injected the drive and energy that was so lacking, but neither failed ot have a winning impact.

"The game was over before it started," Bosnich said. "Very rarely in any sport, let alone two goal scorers from one of the greatest wins in Australian football history are left out of the game. It upset the whole balance.

"In my opinion, you don’t leave out your goal scorers form your victory. The best thing that happened in the first half is that it they got to half-time at only 2-0. For all the huffing and puffing, the best chance of the second half also fell to America.

"You have to back up the words, it was a bit lamb to the slaughter. It was wave after wave of attack."

AMERICAN FOOD SUCKS

Norway have taken matters into their own hands with reports they have shipped more than 400kgs of salmon from their homeland to the world Cup because of how bad the food is.

Reports suggest Norway are not satisfied by what is on offer in the USA and in the aftermath of their 4-2 victory over Iraq, they started shipping in more nutritious food.

According to The Sun, Norway has "shipped over 300kg of Atlantic salmon and white fish for players to feast on during their tournament run.

"Norway have also brought over 116kg of brunost – a classically Norwegian type of brown caramelised cheese."