Joe Hart took aim at ITV’s Gabriel Clarke before England vs Argentina (Image: BBC)
BBC pundit Joe Hart took aim at ITV rival Gabriel Clarke for his line of questioning to Jude Bellingham after England’s quarter-final win over Norway. Hart was on the Beeb’s punditry team for the semi-final against Argentina in Atlanta. And pre-match, the panel – also featuring Wayne Rooney and Micah Richards at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium – discussed the furore around Bellingham’s post-match interview in the previous round.
England boss Thomas Tuchel made it clear he wasn’t happy with the Three Lions’ performance despite their 2-1 win over Norway. Moments later, Bellingham was quizzed about Tuchel’s comments and gave a fiery response, saying to ITV’s Clarke, who also interviewed his manager: “Yeah, well, whatever, whatever. It’s difficult out there. It’s difficult. It’s a tough shift. All the players have put in a very tough shirt. My thoughts and appreciations go to the players who were out there who put in a great shift yet again.” He added in a separate interview that Tuchel “maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those conditions” against a team of Norway’s quality.
But Hart, previewing the final-four showdown against Argentina on the BBC, stuck up for Bellingham while taking aim at Clarke’s line of questioning. He said: “I think what I love about that is context is key. Thomas Tuchel cares what’s inside his squad. If you want to go off what was being asked of Jude Bellingham, which was a bit naughty in my opinion because it was only the negative of what was said.
“Of course he’s going to react like that. He felt like he was being attacked having something special. Then everyone talks about it. But when you go back behind the closed doors and Jude Bellingham realises what he [Tuchel] has said on a whole, they’re having a laugh about it I’m sure they are. I think Tuchel would expect him to react like that if that’s all he’s been told.”
BBC presenter Mark Chapman tried to stick up for his fellow reporter Clarke as he said: “That’s a perfectly normal question to ask a player though isn’t it? After the manager has given his interview.”
Hart hit back: “I’m not telling anyone how to do their job. Everyone is within their right to ask a question. I’m telling you as a player if I’m emotional, and I’m on the back off getting to a semi-final, which I haven’t done by the way, I would react like that. And I think it’s naughty. But like I say, I’m not telling you how to do your job, Chappers!”
Hart wore a stern face as he said that last line, to which Chapman replied while laughing: “How come every time we do a show you intimidate me in some way or other? I’m going to move on now! Even if I didn’t have to, I’m moving on.” Hart concluded the segment by saying: “We’re moving on now!”
England captain Harry Kane was similarly agitated with ITV and said this week: “When you are playing a game like that and to be asked a question five minutes after the final whistle, and he [Bellingham] didn’t really know what the manager has said, what do you want Jude to say? We had just been through a battle. It was really tough out there.
EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
Joe Hart speaks on the BBC before England vs Argentina (Image: BBC)
“It is easy to try and create this division – it seems like an English mentality, an English thing to do at these major tournaments. 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.”
Tuchel also confirmed that he held clear-the-air talks with Bellingham and says the pair have moved on from the incident. The German said: “I think we come from the same place. Our comments come from the same place from being competitive and having the edge when competition is on.
“So he was just confronted with the negative side, often with a critique of my side. I called him a world-class player, that I said he had world -lass actions again to decide the match, that I said the mentality is outstanding of this team. All of that was not part of the question. I get it. So he was confronted with ‘what do you think, the coach said you were sloppy.’
“Of course, I would maybe also bite back when I come from 120 minutes, scored two goals, gave literally everything that is in my body. It’s just a very normal thing, a very normal reaction for a player of his mindset. So no problem. I spoke to the whole team. We debriefed. I spoke to the whole team after in the dressing room, which was basically the same message.
“And I explained it again the next evening to just move on forward. And then we straight away in the talk put on a new direction, put on a new head, which is semi-final and Argentina.”