Clement Turpin’s appointment for England vs Croatia adds an immediate subplot before kick-off. Thomas Tuchel has already crossed swords with the French referee, and the numbers on Turpin’s previous meetings with both teams make this World Cup opener feel a little less routine than a normal group-stage appointment.

Turpin’s record with both teams is not neutral

The cleanest figure is Croatia’s. Turpin has overseen four Croatia matches and Croatia have won all four of them. That alone gives the fixture a strange little edge, even before England's own history with him is considered.

England’s record under Turpin is more mixed. He has taken charge of seven England matches, with England winning four, drawing one and losing two. The disciplinary numbers are notable too, with Turpin showing England 10 yellow cards and one red, while also awarding them three penalties.

That is enough to explain why his appointment has been picked over. The referee has not merely been a background figure in England games, and Croatia’s perfect run under him is the kind of detail fans notice quickly once the draw and the officials are out.

Why Tuchel’s old criticism still hangs over the game

Tuchel’s grievance dates back to the 2023 Champions League quarter-final second leg between Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Speaking after that game, he branded Turpin a “Grade E, one out of 10 referee with absolutely terrible performance”.

That is not a throwaway line. It was a public and brutal assessment, and it means this appointment brings a bit of old friction with it, even if Turpin’s record in international tournaments is much narrower. His only knockout game at a World Cup or Euros was Brazil’s 4-1 win over South Korea at Qatar 2022.

For England, the practical question is simpler. Turpin has already been involved in seven of their matches, and those games have produced wins, draws, defeats, bookings, a red card and penalties. For Croatia, the angle is even tidier, because their Turpin record is perfect.

If the game turns awkward, the referee storyline will not be hard to find. Turpin’s history with both teams is already part of the match before a ball is kicked, and the numbers give that subplot enough weight to matter on Sunday.

Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →