Ben White goes from saint to sinner as England draw with Uruguay

Ben White endured a dramatic return to international duty as England surrendered a late lead to draw 1-1 with Uruguay at Wembley.

The 28-year-old was introduced as a second-half substitute to a chorus of boos from sections of the home crowd.

White appeared to silence his critics only 12 minutes after coming on, scoring a tap-in at the far post in the 81st minute following a well-worked corner routine to give England the lead.

However, the defender’s night then took a turn for the worse.

White conceded a penalty in stoppage time with a clumsy challenge inside the box, which Federico Valverde calmly converted past debutant goalkeeper James Trafford to secure a draw for Uruguay.

White was booed again at full time, bringing a sour end to what had looked set to be a triumphant comeback after a self-imposed four-year absence from international football after the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Reports previously suggested White’s absence stemmed from a fallout with former England coach Steve Holland, allegedly following comments from Holland in regard to White’s interest in the sport during a squad training session.

Tuchel and Henderson defend White

England manager Thomas Tuchel defended the right-back after the match, expressing disappointment at the crowd’s reaction.

“There were some boos and a mixed reception, which is disappointing because we protect our players. He was excellent in camp and deserved to come on,” Tuchel said.

“He needs to take it on the chin. We will support him, and hopefully we can move forward because he is ready to write a new chapter.”

Midfielder Jordan Henderson also backed his teammate, suggesting criticism had been fuelled by external narratives.

“Some fans probably don’t even know why they are booing. They listen to what’s said in the media, and a lot of the time it isn’t true,” Henderson said.

“Not many people know what really happened in Qatar. That’s for us to deal with internally. Ben has been good since he came back, and we’ll support him.”

Henderson himself has experienced similar scrutiny by fans after his move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq in 2023.  

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Tuchel’s World Cup dilemma: White or Alexander-Arnold?

White’s inclusion has also sparked debate, particularly given the omission of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Initially absent from Tuchel’s 35-man squad for the friendlies, White was called up following injuries to Jarrell Quansah and Reece James, as well as the international retirement of Kyle Walker.

Tuchel has not appeared too keen on Trent Alexander-Arnold – a trend that has been persistent throughout the scouser’s international career so far – and the German has indicated that White’s versatility has given him the edge.

While Alexander-Arnold offers exceptional attacking quality, his defensive reliability has always been called into question, despite his many accomplishments.

White can operate both at right-back and centre-back, proving adept at both positions, providing valuable tactical flexibility to the squad that could see him partner Marc Guehi in central defence or operating down the right-flank with Arsenal teammate Bukayo Saka during the tournament.

While the debate will continue in the media and amongst the fans, Tuchel will not be deterred by fan sentiment, and will not be afraid to make a controversial omission if he feels it is necessary for England to fit his tactical plan.  

The World Cup is fast approaching

With the World Cup on the horizon, Tuchel is entering a decisive period in shaping what will be his final squad for the tournament.

England remain among the favourites as they prepare to travel to North America in pursuit of their first World Cup triumph since 1966.

Several players including Phil Foden, James Garner, and Dominic Solanke, failed to impress against Uruguay and may have one final opportunity to stake their claim for a spot in the squad when England face Japan on March 31st.

For White, the match against Uruguay did not prove to be the grand homecoming that it initially looked like being, but the defender can take this in his stride and show why he deserves to remain in Tuchel’s thoughts ahead of the World Cup.  

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