England open their 2026 World Cup campaign with a clash against Croatia at Dallas Stadium on Wednesday, but Thomas Tuchel won’t be happy to see who the referee is for the 2018 semi-final repeat.

The Three Lions will face Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L as they look to end a 60-year drought when it comes to major silverware. If they are to do so and lift the World Cup, they’d be making history in the process.

No World Cup-winning manager has been foreign to the nation they managed to glory. Tuchel, as a German managing England, would be the first-ever case if he brings football home.

Thomas Tuchel’s Angry History With World Cup Ref

Nathan Ray Seebeck via Reuters

The German tactician has already had a furious run-in with the appointed referee for the World Cup encounter on Wednesday night. French official Clement Turpin even sent the England boss off in a match while he was at Bayern Munich.

During a 2023 Champions League quarter-final loss against Manchester City, Tuchel was livid with the officiating and was sent to the stands after picking up two yellow cards. He then went on a rant about Turpin, who had booked five players in the first half and sent off Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano – a decision that VAR overturned.

The former Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund manager made his feelings about the referee very clear after the game, labelling the 44-year-old ‘terrible’. He even gave him a ‘1/10’ rating, as he fumed (per The Sun):

England’s Results Under ‘1/10’ Referee

Image via Reuters/Nathan Ray Seebeck

Turpin, voted the world’s best referee in 2025, has been in the middle for six England matches in the past. The most notable being a humiliating 4-0 Nations League defeat by Hungary.

He was also the referee in the Three Lions’ goalless draw with Slovenia at Euro 2024. He was there for the 5-0 win against Serbia in late 2025, meaning he’s already encountered Tuchel since their heated meeting in 2023. England won the other three matches Turpin officiated comfortably.

Should there be a controversial incident against Croatia, it may be worth keeping an eye on Tuchel’s reaction. Turpin is generally seen as one of the best referees around, but clearly has history with the England manager.

Tottenham Hotspur are working on a quick deal for Manchester City forward Savinho as they close in on making another double signing for Roberto De Zerbi, according to Football Insider.

Even though the summer transfer window doesn’t officially open until Monday, Tottenham have already completed two signings for De Zerbi ahead of next season as they look to take a significant step after two successive 17th-placed finishes in the Premier League.

Spurs have added experienced defensive duo Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi to their ranks, to boost a backline that has conceded 183 goals in the previous three Premier League campaigns.

The north London outfit’s business at the back hints at a major departure at the heart of the defence, with two prime candidates to go if recent reports are to be believed.

Brighton and Hove Albion have lodged a £30m bid for 19-year-old Luka Vuskovic, who is keen on a move to the Amex Stadium to work under Fabian Hurzeler and play regular first-team football.

Captain Cristian Romero has been linked with a move away for months, and appears more likely to go than Micky van de Ven, who GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs believes is more likely to sign a new contract than leave.

Tottenham Working on Fast Savinho Signing

via Reuters

Tottenham have been tracking Manchester City winger Savinho for more than a year now, and they are making a second attempt to bring him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after failing with a move last summer.

Fabrizio Romano reported earlier this month that Spurs are making ‘progress’ over a deal to bring the Brazilian to London, and now Football Insider claim that talks are expected to progress quickly with the ‘extraordinary’ 22-year-old determined to join De Zerbi’s side.

A transfer from City to Tottenham was blocked by City chiefs last summer, but after limited starts this term he is now keen to leave the Etihad in search of more regular minutes.

City are willing to reach an agreement with Tottenham that works for everybody involved, with Spurs chiefs now confident of sealing their third signing of the summer.

A bid of around £60m would likely be accepted by City, with Spurs now lining up a move that matches that value.

Tottenham ‘Closer’ to Jan Paul Van Hecke Agreement

via Reuters

As well as Savinho, Tottenham are working simultaneously on a deal to bring Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke to the club.

De Zerbi is clearly keen to add another centre-back to his ranks ahead of next season, even after the Senesi deal, although the Seagulls have a high valuation for the Dutchman even though he has just one year remaining on his contract on the south coast.

Reports out of the Netherlands in recent days suggested that a deal for Van Hecke was getting ‘closer and closer’, as ENIC continue to flex their muscles in the transfer market.

Football Insider claim Spurs are about to launch a third £55m bid for the Dutch international, who kicks off his World Cup campaign against Japan on Sunday night.

Tottenham were further boosted on Sunday by the news that right-back Pedro Porro has signed a new and improved five-year deal to stay at the club.

A World Cup nation’s team plane has been denied entry into the US the night before they are due to get their tournament underway, with delays threatening to derail their final preparations.

The situation has been described as chaos among local journalists, with more issues raised in an opening week that has been defined by players, coaches, staff and referees struggling to get beyond strict border control.

The idea that Donald Trump was congratulated ahead of the USA, Canada and Mexico showpiece event, and handed the inaugural FIFA ‘Peace Prize’, in Gianni Infantino’s insistence that the country would “welcome everyone” over the summer, is now laughable. And the latest issue to arise has put the affected nation at risk of receiving a hefty fine.

World Cup Nation Delayed En-Route to the USA As Plane Denied Entry

As reported by Romain Molina – a journalist who has previously worked for the BBC, The Guardian, and the New York Times – Uruguay’s team plane has been left stranded in Mexico due to missing documents ahead of their flight to Miami, where they are scheduled to face Saudi Arabia in Group H tomorrow night. He wrote on X:

It is being reported by some unconfirmed sources that FIFA are at fault for what is expected to be a three-hour delay. That would mean Uruguay’s press conference will be cancelled, while they are not set to arrive until later in the night.

Uruguay Have Genuine ‘Dark Horse’ Potential This Summer

Andres Cuenca via Reuters

The inaugural World Cup hosts and winners, Uruguay, are always tricky opposition and can sometimes upset the odds, such as defeating Brazil at the Maracana in the final in 1950. You could argue that La Celeste is the Atletico Madrid of South American football, although manager Marcelo Bielsa has them playing a completely different brand of football nowadays.

Ninth in our World Cup 2026 Power Rankings, Bielsa’s men finished fourth in the CONMEBOL qualifying table, winning seven of 18 games, including victories over Brazil and Argentina. Real Madrid‘s Federico Valverde is his country’s engine, while Darwin Nunez has fared well when donning his nation’s colours.

They will want to avoid an early stumble against Saudi Arabia, who surprised everyone with a group stage win over the 2022 winners during the last tournament. But travel complications certainly won’t help their chances.