'Why not take advantage?' - did hydration breaks spark England comeback?

Image source, AFP via Getty Images Image caption, England boss Thomas Tuchel spoke to all his players during both hydration breaks By Gary Rose BBC Sport journalist Published 6 minutes ago When the first hydration break took place in Wednesday's World Cup last-32 match between England and DR Congo, the customary boos could be heard from the fans. While the majority of jeers were for something that has been viewed with negativity among supporters at this tournament, some of them will have been for England's performance too at that stage. But did the much-maligned splitting of the match into effectively quarters actually become something that helped England? Thomas Tuchel's side were a goal down in the seventh minute and playing poorly. The first hydration break offered the German coach a much-needed opportunity to speak to his players and regroup. The second also sparked late pressure as Harry Kane scored twice in the final 15 minutes to secure a 2-1 win for the Three Lions and a place in the last 16, where they will face co-hosts Mexico. "I don't agree with them but it has come at the right time for England," former England striker Alan Shearer said on Match of the Day after the first break. "You can see Thomas Tuchel going around all his players because not one of them has put in a performance yet. "It has been slow, too many errors, they've been too open and been punished. It has to get better." It did get better, but how did Tuchel use the breaks and how did it England? A heavily jeered $250m goldmine - are hydration break ads here to stay? Published 19 June No extra revenue for Fifa from hydration breaks - Infantino Published 7 days ago World Cup hydration breaks - who are the winners and losers? Published 15 June 'I don't really love them' - but Tuchel makes most of breaks 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, ev