What will it be like in Qatar? Holland and Mexico become first teams to take drinks break during 2014 World Cup after temperatures in Brazil reach 39C

  • Referee Pedro Proenca ordered breaks on the 30 and 75 minute marks
  • Temperature reached a sweltering 38.8C in Fortaleza at Estadio Castelao
  • Supporters left their sun-drenched seats to find shade as temperatures rose
  • Temperatures in 2022 venue Qatar likely to reach 40 degrees or more
  • Netherlands beat Mexico 2-1 to reach quarter-final of the World Cup

By Lucy Crossley and Kieran Gill

Published: 21:25 EST, 29 June 2014 | Updated: 04:08 EST, 30 June 2014


The Netherlands and Mexico became the first teams to take a drinks break during this year's World Cup after temperatures in Brazil reached 39C.

As temperatures rose in Fortaleza, the teams were given official three-minute 'cooling breaks' on the 30 and 75 minute marks to take in drinks at Estadio Castelao.

The extreme heat, which saw fans retreat to the back of the stands to avoid the sun, prompted fears over the suitability of Qatar as the 2022 tournament hosts, as temperatures there often approach 45C.

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Cooling off: The Mexico team were given a three-minute break to take in fluids and cool off during this year's first World Cup 'cooling breaks'

Cooling off: The Mexico team were given a three-minute break to take in fluids and cool off during this year's first World Cup 'cooling breaks'

Hot: Mexico's Paul Aguilar (right) attempts to cool off with a drink in the 39C heat

Hot: Mexico's Paul Aguilar (right) attempts to cool off with a drink in the 39C heat

Water break: Holland take in three minutes to themselves in their game against Mexico

Water break: Holland take in three minutes to themselves in their game against Mexico

Portuguese referee Pedro Proenca was the first match official of this year's tournament to halt play for a mandatory water break, which ruling body FIFA said would be put in place should temperatures reach 32C or more. 

The three minutes, which also gave Mexico boss Miguel Herrera and Holland manager Louis van Gaal time to talk tactics with the teams, were added to stoppage time at the end of each half.

 

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Van Gaal claimed he used the second one to change his tactics and bring about his team's eventual 2-1 victory.

The Dutch had come from a goal down against Mexico, winning a penalty deep in injury time with the scores level.

Empty seats: Many fans left their seats in an attempt to avoid the intense heat and scorching sunshine

Empty seats: Many fans left their seats in an attempt to avoid the intense heat and scorching sunshine

Time: The water breaks gave Miguel Herrera - still wearing his suit jacket despite the raging heat - three minutes to talk tactics with his players

Time: The water breaks gave Miguel Herrera - still wearing his suit jacket despite the raging heat - three minutes to talk tactics with his players

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored from the penalty spot after Mexican captain Rafael Marquez was punished for his foul on Dutch winger Arjen Robben.

The new Manchester United manager said: ' First I had changed to 4-3-3 and we created a lot of opportunities.

'Then I moved to plan B and yes I did that in the cooling break. That’s a clever way of benefiting from these breaks.'

This is the first World Cup where cooling breaks have been used, with each venue's medical teams monitoring the temperatures at pitch level and employing breaks if the mercury rises above 32C.

Referees can decide when to stop play in order for the players to take on water and cool down.

The breaks would certainly be needed in Qatar, given temperatures can rise to a worrying 50 degrees between May and September, and has been as high as 53C.

Winner: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored from the penalty spot deep into injury time, taking The Netherlands into the World Cup quarter finals

Winner: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored from the penalty spot deep into injury time, taking The Netherlands into the World Cup quarter finals

It has been argued that such heat would prove dangerous for both players and supporters, while the area can also be subjected to sandstorms during the dry season.

If the tournament was moved to the winter, as has been proposed, the temperature would be likely to be between the mid 20s and 30s.

Prior to yesterday's match, both teams had been forced to switch training venues because FIFA deemed the pitch at Estadio Castelao unable to cope with two practice sessions and a match in two days.

The Dutch coach had warned before the last-16 game that players may have hallucinated were they not allowed to take on water during the match.

Rio too! Ferdinand took his own drinks break, taking to Twitter to pose with his drink in the sun

Rio too! Ferdinand took his own drinks break, taking to Twitter to pose with his drink in the sun

‘If we have to, we will take drinks and put bottles round the pitch. It is extremely important and that is why a dehydration element was included in training and friendlies,' he said.

‘Every player will become dehydrated. Some lose four litres during the game. That is four kilos.

‘They have to replenish otherwise they will start hallucinating. The players know this.'

Elsewhere, though, former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand joined in, taking to social media to show off a selfie of himself taking his own drinks break.

But one man who the seemed to not be bothered by the heat was Herrera, who kept his suit jacket on throughout as he watched his team concede two goals in as many minutes to crash out.

Herrera, the least-paid manager at the World Cup on £125,000-a-year, coped well with the heat since the tournament began, leading Mexico out of a tough Group A at the expense of Croatia and Cameroon.

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