England begin their 2026 World Cup journey on Wednesday with a Group L match against Croatia at Dallas Stadium, though Thomas Tuchel will be less than thrilled to learn the identity of the referee for this repeat of the 2018 semi-final.
The Three Lions are set to take on Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L as they seek to end a 60-year wait for a major trophy. Achieving that feat and lifting the World Cup would see them make history in the process.
No World Cup-winning manager has ever been of a nationality different from the nation they led to glory. Tuchel, a German in charge of England, would become the first to achieve that if he brings the trophy home.
Thomas Tuchel's Volatile History With the World Cup Referee
The German coach has previously had a heated confrontation with the official appointed for Wednesday's World Cup fixture. French referee Clement Turpin even sent the England manager off during a match when he was at Bayern Munich.
In a 2023 Champions League quarter-final defeat to Manchester City, Tuchel was furious with the officiating and was dismissed to the stands after receiving two yellow cards. He subsequently launched into a tirade against Turpin, who had booked five players in the first half and sent off Bayern's Dayot Upamecano—a decision later overturned by VAR.
The former Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund boss made his sentiments about the referee abundantly clear after the match, branding the 44-year-old 'terrible'. He even gave him a '1/10' rating as he vented (per The Sun):
"I’d give him a 1/10. He was absolutely terrible. It’s unbelievable at this level. He was whistling for everything and anything. Everything was against us.
"In the end, we were never in a position to turn things around with three men against us. That’s a fact."
England's Results Under the '1/10' Referee
Turpin, named the world's best referee in 2025, has officiated six England matches previously. The most notable among them was a humiliating 4-0 Nations League defeat to Hungary.
Subscribe to our newsletter for World Cup referee analysis
He also took charge of the Three Lions' goalless draw with Slovenia at Euro 2024. Additionally, he was the referee for the 5-0 victory over Serbia in late 2025, meaning he has already encountered Tuchel since their contentious meeting in 2023. England comfortably won the other three matches Turpin oversaw.
Crucial details have come to light ahead of the Three Lions' World Cup opener.
Should any controversial incidents occur against Croatia, it may be wise to monitor Tuchel's response. Turpin is widely regarded as one of the top referees in the game, but clearly shares a history with the England manager.
Found an error? Send it to info@www.givemesport.com so it can be corrected.
Football
World Cup
England
Transfer News & Rumours
Transfer News & Rumours
Premier League
Premier League