Harry Kane, the England captain, denied any rift between manager Thomas Tuchel and midfielder Jude Bellingham, stressing that reports in the media about tension within the Three Lions camp do not reflect the true atmosphere inside the team.

The speculation came after England defeated Norway 2-1 in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, following Tuchel's expression of dissatisfaction with his team's performance, describing it as not good 'by any measure.' When Bellingham was asked about his coach's comments immediately after the match, he appeared non-committal, sparking rumors of a disagreement between the two.

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But Kane dismissed this narrative in remarks to the BBC, saying: 'Just five minutes after the end of a game of that magnitude, Jude didn't know the details of what the coach said, so what was he expected to reply? We had just come off a tough encounter.' The England captain added: 'It's easy to fabricate stories about a split within the team, and it seems this always happens in the English media during major tournaments, but the reality is completely different.'

Kane emphasized that England's progress to the World Cup semi-finals was due to team unity, explaining: 'What we have achieved so far is the result of cohesion between the players and the coaching staff under Tuchel's leadership, and sometimes situations are blown out of proportion.'

Bellingham had responded to Tuchel's criticism, who described the team's display as 'chaotic,' saying: 'Maybe he doesn't realize how difficult it is to play against opponents like Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, Antonio Nusa, and Alexander Sørloth; facing this team is not easy.'

Kane concluded his remarks by praising his German coach, affirming that the players appreciate his honesty and direct approach, and said: 'Tuchel speaks candidly and without pretense, and that gives him credibility. He is one of the best coaches in the world, and over the past two years we have learned his methods and know exactly what he expects from us.'