Kane dismisses England rift talk as Bellingham-Tuchel row fades before Argentina semi-final

Harry Kane has moved to quash talk of a rift between Jude Bellingham and Thomas Tuchel, declaring England’s squad is bound by “complete togetherness” as they prepare for a World Cup semi-final against Argentina.

The tension surfaced after England’s hard-fought 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway in Miami, where Bellingham scored twice to drag his side through. Tuchel questioned the quality of the performance in his post-match remarks, prompting Bellingham to suggest the manager “doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those kind of conditions.”

Kane, speaking to BBC Sport, was quick to contextualise his teammate’s comments. “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 the manager has said, what do you want Jude to say?” the captain said. “We had just been through a battle. It was really tough out there.”

The England skipper pushed back firmly on the narrative of division. “It is easy to try and create this division — it seems like an English mentality, an English thing to do at these major tournaments,” he said. “But it is the complete opposite. The group is where we are because of our togetherness — not just the players, the coach and the staff. Things sometimes get made out to be more than they are.”

Kane also defended Tuchel’s direct style, framing it as a mark of the German’s quality rather than a source of friction. “He wears his heart on his sleeve and people appreciate that. When he talks, it is never scripted. That is what makes him who he is,” Kane said.

“He is one of the best managers in the world for a reason. We understand it. Over the past two years we have got to know him and know what makes him happy.”

Kane acknowledged that players are always the first to know when a performance falls short, adding: “Players on the pitch know more than anyone when you are playing well, when you are not playing well — that is part and parcel of football. We understand what the boss meant.”

England now face Argentina in the semi-finals, with Kane and Bellingham expected to form the attacking spine of a side that has ground out results even when not at their fluid best.