“I’m over here” – ‘Showboating’ Sam Thompson snaps during tense Soccer Aid moment with Louis Tomlinson as body language expert reveals subtle power play behind awkward first encounter since Zara McDermott romance - suong

All eyes were on Sam Thompson and Louis Tomlinson as the duo joined up with the Soccer Aid crew ahead of this weekend's charity event. And despite the duo seeming to be amicable, Sam was left less than impressed during an interview.

Former One Direction man Louis, 33, is currently dating 32-year-old Sam's ex, Zara McDermott. Fans were eager to see how the pair would greet each other for the first time since Louis and Zara's relationship news.

And it appears as though the awkward meeting brought two differing approaches as they mingled with teammates. However, Sam's off-field actions showed tension could be in the air.

Sam is involved in this year's Soccer Aid(Image: James Veysey/Shutterstock)

As Sam was being interviewed by the Daily Mail, cameras panned over his shoulder to show Louis continuing with the training session. Sam is heard telling the team: "You're going over my shoulder. I'm over here."

Sounding riled, Sam continued: "Stop going over there, what are you doing. I'm over here. It's fine, okay, cool, well you're just going to get my voice and the lads training."

It comes after a body language expert said their apparent efforts to avoid eye contact only acted as an "attention-magnet".

Speaking to Mail Online, Judi James claimed Sam's actions made him look like he was trying to be seen as "anything but a loser in love" as he played alongside his exes new man. Louis on the other hand appeared to be more "introverted" during the interaction, observed Judi.

Judi said: "There probably was scope for these two guys to connect with a hug or a handshake, no matter how cursory, but they chose to perform a non-verbal 'ignore' of the situation, with Sam being Zara's ex while Louis is very much her current"

Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott(Image: Getty)

She added that while both appeared to show off "good guy" vibes, Sam is clearly the one who is in more of an attention-seeking mode. "'They each appear to have adopted contrasting states," she explained.

"Sam's body language puts him in an attention-seeking mode, showboating with a wide smile and animated gesticulation, while Louis appears more introvert, watching the action with a grin rather than instigating it himself."

The expert claimed Sam was trying to suggest he has clearly moved on from his past after spending five years with Zara, 28. She also said the interaction appeared to show "no outward sign of anything competitive or of open resentment" between the pair.

Zara and Sam shocked their followers by announcing their split in January. Shortly after, the former Love Island star was heavily linked with the pop star. It first emerged that they enjoyed a romantic dinner at a hotel before snaps of them holding hands emerged on the internet.

Following the speculation, Sam revealed an interview question that drew attention to his looming interaction with Louis. He said: "At the end of the interview, he goes, 'Look mate, I've got to ask the question that everyone wants to know. This is sort of the big question really, the elephant in the room, What's it going to be like with you and Louis? Obviously he's doing Soccer Aid too.'".Sam opened up on the questioning and laughed: "Mate, you should have seen the room, everybody, it was silent then everyone goes 'Woah, Woah Woah, end the call! End the call!' and I have just gone 'No, no guys, I've got this, I've got this.' I held my hands up to say just relax."