How fatigue shapes World Cup interceptions

An interception can last less than a second. A defender reads a pass, steps into its path and reaches the ball before its intended recipient. Yet that brief movement requires the brain to judge speed, distance and direction while the body accelerates, changes course and maintains balance. Interceptions show how closely thought and movement are connected, and how mental and physical fatigue can disrupt that connection. As players tire, they must still decide whether to move and continually…