Referee in USA-Portugal grants first ever World Cup water break

In the 39th minute of the USA’s clash with Portugalin Manaus, midfielder Jermaine Jones limped off to get some medical attention for his tattooed knee. Referee Nestor Pitana appeared to use the break in play to call a discretionary water break – the first time this has ever happened at a World Cup.
Due to the heat and humidity at several venues in this tournament, officials are permitted to grant one short hydration break in each half.
Furthermore, a Brazilian judge has ordered mandatory water breaks every 30 minutes if the temperature reaches and exceeds 90 Fahrenheit.
According to the FIFA website, the temperature in the Amazonian stadium for this group G clash reached 86 Fahrenheit, with 66% humidity.
Despite similar temperatures during England’s clash with Italy in Manaus last weekend, no water break was given. This lack of respite clearly had its effect on players – Andrea Pirlo was reduced from his normal walking pace to a slightly slower walking pace.
Maradona thinks FIFA is targeting World Cup darlings Costa Rica with drug tests
Diego Maradona is a one-man hub of conspiracy theories – he was certain FIFA banned him from entering Argentina’s match against Bosnia-Herzegovina (they didn’t) and now he believes FIFA is discriminating against the Costa Rican team with drug tests.
After Costa Rica sealed its surprise place in the knockout stage with a 1-0 win over Italy, seven Los Ticos players were called in for a doping test – the usual two as required of each team after every match, plus five more. FIFA said the additional five players were called in because they were among the nine percent of World Cup participants who had not completed their required pre-tournament testing. But Maradona, the only player to ever be sent home from a World Cup after failing a drug test (1994), believes shenanigans are afoot.