Who will blow the whistle for England’s big World Cup start?

England kicks off their World Cup campaign on Wednesday against Croatia, and a familiar face will be in the middle of the field—French referee Clément Turpin. His name might ring a few bells for English fans, not just because he’s officiated high-profile matches, but also because he’s rubbed some top players the wrong way in the past. Back in 2023, Turpin sent Thomas Tuchel to the stands during a Champions League clash between Bayern Munich and Manchester City. The German manager lost his cool after getting shown two yellow cards, calling Turpin’s performance “Grade E” in a post-match rant. Tuchel wasn’t just upset about the card—he blasted the pitch conditions too, but most of the focus stayed on the referee’s decisions. Five bookings in the first half, a controversial red card for Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano (later overturned), and a 4-1 aggregate loss for the German side. Tuchel’s frustration was clear: he felt the referee’s calls shifted the game unfairly.Fast forward to 2024, and Turpin crossed paths with England’s Jude Bellingham in another Champions League semi-final. Bellingham, known for his cool-headed play, tried to psyche out Harry Kane before a penalty—only for Turpin to step in and push him away. Kane calmly slotted the spot-kick in, but the moment highlighted how much presence referees can have, even in small interactions. Bellingham didn’t get booked, but the exchange showed how referee-player relationships can get tense in split seconds. Turpin isn’t new to big stages. He’s overseen major finals, like the 2021 Europa League and the 2022 Champions League deciders. More recently, he took charge of England’s goalless draw with Slovenia at Euro 2024. That match passed without major controversy, but his history with top managers raises questions: can a referee whose calls have sparked anger in elite footballers remain neutral in England’s World Cup opener?