Clement Turpin will officiate England's World Cup opener despite past criticism from the German coach.
French referee Clement Turpin has been handed the whistle for England's crucial World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday, despite being publicly slammed by Thomas Tuchel as a "Grade E" official during his time at Chelsea.
The appointment raises eyebrows given Tuchel's scathing assessment of Turpin's officiating standards. The German manager's harsh critique came after what he perceived as poor decision-making that affected his team's performance in European competition.
Turpin's assignment to such a high-profile match demonstrates FIFA's confidence in the 50-year-old official, who has been refereeing at the highest level for over a decade. He'll be tasked with managing a potentially explosive encounter between two nations with recent World Cup history – Croatia knocked England out in the 2018 semi-finals.
For England, featuring several players of African heritage including Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, this opener represents a chance to set the tone for their tournament campaign. The Three Lions will be hoping Turpin's performance doesn't become a talking point, allowing the focus to remain on their quest for World Cup glory.
