England squad unity emphasised

By Rohan Gupta — 15 July 2026 — 3 min read

England captain Harry Kane has dismissed suggestions of a rift between manager Thomas Tuchel and midfielder Jude Bellingham. Kane attributed the speculation to an exaggeration of a post-match exchange following their World Cup quarter-final victory against Norway. The team secured a place in the semi-finals with a 2-1 win.

Following the Norway match, Tuchel stated that England “got lucky” and expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s performance “in every sense.” When asked about these comments, Bellingham responded, “Yeah, well, whatever. It’s difficult out there – it’s a tough shift.” This exchange fuelled speculation regarding tension within the England camp.

Kane, speaking on Monday, clarified that the England squad is far from divided. He explained that when a player is asked a question minutes after a demanding match, their immediate response might be misinterpreted. He suggested that creating division is often a characteristic during major tournaments, but stressed that the team’s current position is due to their “complete togetherness,” encompassing players, coaches, and staff.

The captain further elaborated on Bellingham’s reaction, noting that the midfielder did not fully know what had been said when he was questioned. Kane highlighted the intense nature of the game, referring to it as a “battle.” He added that “things sometimes get made out to be more than they are.”

Tuchel’s managerial approach

Kane also addressed the differences in Tuchel’s managerial style compared to his predecessor, Sir Gareth Southgate, stating that it is not a negative aspect. He described Tuchel as someone who “wears his heart on his sleeve” and whose communication is “never scripted.”

According to Kane, players appreciate Tuchel’s honesty and directness. He believes that this natural approach fosters belief in the manager’s words and methods. Kane affirmed Tuchel’s standing as “one of the best managers in the world for a reason,” and noted that the team has grown to understand his expectations over the past two years.

Bellingham, who scored two goals for the second consecutive game, had reportedly questioned whether Tuchel understood the challenges of playing against top players like Erling Haaland in difficult conditions, after Tuchel called England’s performance “sloppy.”

Semi-final challenge against Argentina

England is now set to face Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday, with the match scheduled for 20:00 BST. Argentina, the defending world champions, secured their semi-final spot by defeating Switzerland 3-1.

Left-back Nico O’Reilly expressed excitement about the “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to face Lionel Messi, who is . O’Reilly, who has not faced him at club level, eagerly anticipates the challenge.

Messi began the tournament with a hat-trick in a 3-0 win against Algeria. He has since scored five additional goals, bringing his career World Cup tally to 21 and placing him joint-first with France’s Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race.

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford cautioned against focusing solely on Messi, highlighting the strength of the entire Argentina squad. Pickford acknowledged Messi’s significant contributions throughout his career and expressed enthusiasm for finally playing against him. However, he stressed the importance of concentrating on Argentina’s other strengths and potential weaknesses.

The winner of the England versus Argentina semi-final will advance to the World Cup final. The other semi-final will see France play against Spain on Tuesday.