London: England boss Thomas Tuchel was caught in a tense exchange with defender Djed Spence during the Three Lions' goalless World Cup draw against Ghana on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, with the German coach visibly frustrated on the touchline.
According to Ghana Web, as England struggled to break down Ghana's compact setup in the 0-0 stalemate, cameras picked up Tuchel repeatedly calling out to the Tottenham full-back during the match. Spence initially appeared not to notice his manager's instructions, prompting an increasingly animated reaction from Tuchel as he tried to get his message across from the technical area.
When the England defender finally looked over, Tuchel let rip again, shouting 'give and go' while making hand gestures to show exactly the movement he wanted from his player. The moment quickly drew attention online, with fans reacting to the intensity of the exchange during what was a frustrating evening for England.
Reports after the game said Tuchel wanted Spence to be more involved in England's attacking phase, asking him to start moves from wider areas and make more aggressive runs beyond Ghana's back line. The incident came on a night when England dominated possession but failed to find a way past a disciplined Ghana side, who frustrated them for long spells and left Group L still wide open.
Tuchel later explained that there was no issue between him and Spence, insisting he had simply been trying to get instructions across in the middle of a noisy World Cup atmosphere.