England captain Harry Kane has pushed back against suggestions of division within the squad ahead of Wednesday's World Cup semi-final against Argentina, insisting the camp is “completely together” after manager Thomas Tuchel's stinging criticism of their quarter-final win sparked a terse response from Jude Bellingham.
England secured a draining 2-1 victory over Norway in the Miami heat on Saturday to reach the final four, but Tuchel was far from impressed. Speaking straight after the match, the German said his side “got lucky” and that he was “not happy” with the performance “in every sense”. When asked about those comments, Bellingham replied: “Yeah, well, whatever. It's difficult out there – it's a tough shift.”
“Kane insists England are united despite Tuchel's criticism and Bellingham's dismissive reply before facing Argentina's Premier League defenders.”
The exchange raised eyebrows, but Kane told BBC Sport on Monday that any suggestion of a rift was overstated. “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 said. “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. 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 managerial style, which differs from predecessor Sir Gareth Southgate. “He wears his heart on his sleeve and people appreciate that. When he talks, it is never scripted,” Kane said. “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.”
Standing between England and their first World Cup final in 60 years are Argentina, the defending champions who beat Switzerland 3-1 in their quarter-final. The Argentine backline is built around three Premier League warriors: goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero – nicknamed Cuti – and Lisandro Martinez, known simply as “the Butcher”. All three epitomise the win-at-all-costs mentality that has made Argentina world champions three times, and they now aim to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups.
For England, the threat is not just the defence but Lionel Messi, the 39-year-old eight-time Ballon d'Or winner who will face England for the first time. Left-back Nico O'Reilly, who may have to defend Messi one-on-one, called it a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”. “He's coming towards the end of his career,” O'Reilly told BBC Radio 5 Live. “For me personally, he's the best player to ever touch a football pitch.”
Kane, meanwhile, remains focused on the collective. The Bayern Munich striker, along with Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham, leads an England side that has shed the fear of past tournaments. “It means the world to him,” the squad has said of Kane's captaincy. But first they must break down an Argentina side fuelled by passion and a defence that refuses to give up.