KANSAS CITY, Missouri — England captain Harry Kane is brushing aside suggestions that there is any friction between manager Thomas Tuchel and star midfielder Jude Bellingham, saying the media turned a brief post-game exchange into something it was not following England’s World Cup quarter-final victory over Norway.
The speculation began after Tuchel publicly stated that England had been fortunate in their 2-1 win over Norway and that he was unhappy with the team’s performance “in every sense.” When Bellingham was asked about the manager’s criticism shortly after the final whistle, the 23-year-old’s reaction appeared less than enthusiastic.
Bellingham, who scored two goals for the second game in a row, responded to being told Tuchel had labeled the performance “sloppy” by saying: “Yeah, well, whatever. Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those conditions against Erling Haaland, Odegaard, (Antonio) Nusa, (Alexander) Sorloth. That’s not an easy team to play against.”
That reaction sparked widespread speculation about unrest within the England camp ahead of Wednesday’s semi-final against defending champions Argentina in Atlanta. But Kane was quick to put that narrative to rest.
“When you are playing a game like that and to be asked a question five minutes after the final whistle, and he didn’t really know what had been said, what do you want Jude to say?” Kane told BBC Sport.
“We had just been through a battle. It is easy to try and create this division. It seems like an English thing to do at these major tournaments. But it is the complete opposite,” Kane added.
“The group is where we are because of our complete togetherness — not just the players, the coach and the staff. Things sometimes get made out to be more than they are.”
Kane also defended Tuchel’s straightforward communication style, saying the players respect and appreciate it.
“He wears his heart on his sleeve and people appreciate that,” Kane said. “When he talks, it is never scripted. That is what makes him who he is. When it just comes natural you believe in that, you believe in what he is saying, you believe in his approach.”
“He is one of the best managers in the world for a reason. We understand it. Over the past two years we have got to know him and know what makes him happy,” Kane concluded.
