Frenchman Clement Turpin will referee England’s first match of the World Cup against Croatia this Wednesday. The appointment is notable as Turpin was previously sharply criticized by England manager Gareth Southgate’s predecessor, Thomas Tuchel. While managing Chelsea, Tuchel reportedly gave Turpin a “Grade E” rating following a Champions League match, indicating a very poor performance. FIFA has not commented on Tuchel’s past assessment influencing the referee selection. The match marks a significant start to England’s campaign in the tournament. This will be Turpin’s first World Cup assignment involving England.