Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has praised the officials at the 2022 World Cup for the significant amount of injury time being awarded.
The World Cup is well and truly underway after Wales’ 1-1 draw with the USA concluded a thrilling second day in Qatar.
Something that has been notable across the four games so far has been how much injury time has been added on at end of every match.
In England’s 6-2 win over Iran, 13 minutes were added on in the first-half and 14 in the second, and while there was a significant break in play due to a serious head injury to Iran keeper Alireza Beyranvand, this was still viewed as excessive.
Both Wales’ match and the Netherlands’ 2-0 win over Senegal had 11 minutes of injury time at the end, and although the opening game between Qatar and Ecuador only had five, it was still deemed a lot given how little action there was.
This has surprised many pundits and players, with several Welsh stars noting how fatigued they were by full-time, but Carragher thinks it is a good idea.
‘Enjoying the amount of time that is being added on by the officials at Qatar World Cup 2022,’ the former England defender posted on Twitter.
‘There is too much time wasting in football!’
As mentioned, England were sublime in their opening game of the tournament, with Carragher hailing the performance of Gareth Southgate’s side.
‘Those who suggest these games are as easy as England made it look are failing to appreciate the emotional baggage every player carries into the first game of the World Cup, and that every game has the potential to be tough,’ he wrote for The Telegraph.
‘Imagine the reaction if Brazil or Argentina score six in their opening game. No-one will be talking about the quality of the opposition.
‘They will be talking about how tasty the pre-tournament favourites look and purring over how brilliantly taken some of the goals were. The rest of the world would see a force to be reckoned with.’
MORE : David Beckham sends message to England star Marcus Rashford after World Cup goal against Iran
MORE : Chelsea star Edouard Mendy slated after Senegal lose to Netherlands at World Cup
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