Arsenal defender Ben White has given two conditions before he will return to the English national team after he was left out of the Euro squad
Image credit: Getty ImagesArsenal defender Ben White has reportedly declined any future involvement with the England national team as long as Gareth Southgate and Steve Holland remain in charge.
According to the Daily Mail, White’s disinterest in representing England stems from a conflict with assistant manager Steve Holland, who allegedly questioned White’s dedication to football in front of the squad in 2022.
This tension became public in March of this year when Southgate admitted he wanted to call up White, but the defender refused the offer. The strained relationship contrasts sharply with White’s initial reaction to his England call-up in 2021, which he described as an emotional and overwhelming experience.
“I was out for dinner when I got the news. I didn’t really believe it! I rang my mum straight away, sat down, cried, mum was crying, my dad. I just sat and cried for about an hour,” White reminisced.
However, White’s enthusiasm seemed to wane after his experiences at two major tournaments with England. At Euro 2020, despite being part of the squad, he was left out entirely in five of the seven matches and only made the bench twice.
Similarly, at the World Cup, he remained on the bench for the games against Iran and the USA and did not play any minutes. In the interim between these tournaments, White logged just 135 minutes on the field for England.
Reports from The Athletic suggest that White struggled with his lack of playing time during these tournaments. Furthermore, they noted an argument between White and Holland during the World Cup camp, a week before White left the squad. Southgate has downplayed Holland’s role in White’s situation, but the persistent reports indicate a significant rift.
If the Daily Mail’s claims are accurate, White’s refusal to play for England appears to be directed specifically at Southgate and Holland rather than the national team itself. This stance seems set to persist until there is a change in the England management.
