England vs. Croatia Referee Was Once Labelled 'Grade E' by Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel has plenty of reasons to feel good heading into England's World Cup opener. The camp in Florida went well, the warm-up friendlies came and went without England conceding a goal and the squad looks sharp.
But there's one storyline that's crept into the picture before a ball is even kicked in Dallas. The man assigned to referee England's Group L opener against Croatia is Clement Turpin.
FIFA confirmed the appointment on Sunday, with Nicolas Danos and Benjamin Pages named as his assistants. For most, it's a routine announcement. For Tuchel, it carries some history.
Tuchel's History With Referee Clement Turpin
It goes back to the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. Tuchel was managing Bayern Munich at the time, and Turpin was the referee for both legs against Manchester City.
Bayern lost the first leg 3-0 and could only manage a 1-1 draw in the return match at home, ending their European run. What made it worse for Tuchel was getting sent off late in that second leg after picking up two yellow cards.
"Two things couldn't keep up with the level - the pitch wasn't in good condition and also the referee, unfortunately, was Grade E," Tuchel said of Turpin, per BBC. "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."
He had more to say once Bayern's campaign was officially over.
"In the end, we were never in a position to turn things around with three men against us. That's a fact."
England's World Cup opener will be refereed by Clement Turpin… the official Thomas Tuchel once labelled "Grade E" back in 2023 pic.twitter.com/2BPlShWl9p
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 14, 2026
Strong words, and they're back in circulation now that Turpin is set to take charge of England's first game at the 2026 World Cup.
What This Means for England vs. Croatia
To be fair, Turpin is one of the most decorated officials in European football. He has taken charge of both a Champions League final and a Europa League final.
England knows him too. He refereed their goalless draw against Slovenia at Euro 2024 without much controversy.
Croatia will bring its own challenge, with Luka Modric leading the side. Tuchel's tactical setup will be tested early, and the stakes are real. Whether Turpin's presence adds another layer to an already meaningful match remains to be seen.
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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 8:25 AM.