World Cup 2026: England alarm as Thomas Tuchel’s ‘1/10’ referee handed Croatia showdown

England’s World Cup clash against Croatia comes with an intriguing subplot after FIFA appointed the referee once branded ‘absolutely terrible’ by Thomas Tuchel to officiate the Group L encounter.

French official Clément Turpin will take charge of Wednesday night’s showdown, reviving memories of his fiery history with the England manager.

Tuchel’s old feud resurfaces

One of UEFA’s most experienced referees, Turpin officiated the 2021 Europa League final and the 2022 Champions League final. He also handled seven Champions League matches during the 2025/26 season, including Barcelona’s quarter-final second leg against Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona later complained to UEFA over officiating standards across both legs, alleging that “several refereeing decisions were made that did not comply with the Laws of the Game.”

Turpin’s most notable run-in, however, came with Tuchel during Bayern Munich’s Champions League quarter-final defeat to Manchester City in April 2023.

The German coach was shown two yellow cards and sent to the stands by the Frenchman before launching a blistering attack after the match.

“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.”

Spotlight on the man in the middle

Turpin’s appointment adds extra intrigue to a fixture that could shape England’s hopes of progressing from Group L.

While the focus will ultimately be on the players, the French referee’s decisions are certain to come under intense scrutiny given his history with Tuchel.

Turpin will be assisted by Nicolas Danos and Benjamin Pagès, while Mexico’s Katia Garcia has been appointed fourth official.