Virgil van Dijk has questioned FIFA's controversial hydration breaks at the World Cup, suggesting they are disrupting matches and frustrating viewers watching from home.
The Netherlands captain did not hold back when asked about the mid-half stoppages following his side's entertaining 2-2 draw with Japan in Texas on Sunday.
Hydration breaks were introduced across all matches at this summer's tournament after concerns over extreme temperatures in North America.
The pauses allow players to take on fluids and receive instructions from coaching staff.
However, the policy has already divided opinion and Van Dijk has become one of the most high-profile figures to publicly raise concerns.
The Liverpool defender was asked whether the breaks were necessary in matches where temperatures were not particularly severe.
His response hinted that he is far from convinced.
"Hydration breaks are a bit interesting," Van Dijk said. "I was obviously watching almost all the games up until today and every time going to commercial is a bit... not really that I like it."
Virgil van Dijk has questioned FIFA's controversial hydration breaks at the World Cup, suggesting they are disrupting matches and frustrating viewers watching from home
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The Dutch skipper then suggested supporters watching around the world may feel similarly.
"I think for the neutral watchers on TV it's also not great," he continued.
"If it's really hot, obviously it would be good to put them in.
"But I think you have to look at it in every game separately, in my opinion."
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Every team to have won the World Cup | GETTY/GB NEWSVan Dijk appeared reluctant to push his criticism any further, adding with a smile: "I think I've said enough already for that."
The breaks have become one of the most debated aspects of the tournament.
FIFA approved the measure following concerns raised during last year's expanded Club World Cup, where players and staff were forced to contend with intense heat in several host cities.
Under the current rules, teams are granted a three-minute hydration break in each half regardless of venue or weather conditions.
The move has also coincided with FIFA permitting broadcasters to show commercials during the stoppages, fuelling debate among supporters who believe the interruptions are affecting the rhythm of matches.
Questions over the breaks intensified further after Germany's emphatic 7-1 victory over Curaçao.
Virgil van Dijk scored in the Netherlands' 2-2 draw with Japan on Sunday night
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Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann openly admitted the pause helped his side solve tactical issues after Curaçao equalised during the first half.
Nagelsmann revealed his players had initially struggled to deal with their opponents' diamond midfield system.
"Curacao played with a diamond today and we adjusted how we attacked before the hydration break," he explained.
"The water break was actually good to simply reiterate what we had already adjusted on the board."