England captain Harry Kane has dismissed reports of a rift between manager Thomas Tuchel and midfielder Jude Bellingham, calling them an exaggerated narrative ahead of the team's World Cup semi-final against Argentina. The controversy stems from a post-match exchange after England's 2-1 victory over Norway, where Tuchel criticized the team's performance as 'sloppy' and 'lucky.' Bellingham, who scored both goals in the match, responded dismissively, 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.'
Kane defended Bellingham, arguing that the media was attempting to create division within the squad. '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. He emphasized the team's unity, stating, 'The group is where we are because of our complete togetherness—not just the players, the coach and the staff.'
Kane also praised Tuchel's directness, saying, 'He wears his heart on his sleeve and people appreciate that.' The England squad is now focused on preparing for their semi-final clash with Argentina in Atlanta.