Arsenal defender has been brought back into the international fold by Thomas Tuchel after making himself unavailable for selection under Gareth Southgate
Ben White in England training kit
Ben White is back in the England squad for the first time in four years(Image: Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Whatever your views on his acrimonious departure from England’s last World Cup squad and his subsequent unavailability for international selection, there is a question that has to be asked about Ben White being recalled to the squad. Is it worth it?
There are some who believe a self-imposed exile should mean the end of your international prospects. You know the idea. Your country decides when it needs you - you don’t decide when you need your country.
It is a very old school concept. Almost as old school as believing an elite footballing nation should not have to go to a rival elite footballing nation to find a manager. Hey, ho.
So, it is no wonder Thomas Tuchel is not remotely concerned that White decided against being available for selection by Gareth Southgate in the later stages of the previous England manager’s tenure. Everyone is aware of the story, which, to no avail it seems, Southgate denies.
White had a fallout with assistant Steve Holland at Qatar 2022, came home and decided he would not be available for England selection until there was a change of coaching staff. There are bound to be subtleties and differences of interpretation, but that is the gist.
And White’s stance does not seem heinous enough to debar him from selection by another manager. But it will be a sideshow.
If he plays at Wembley against either Uruguay on Friday or Japan the following Tuesday - or against both - some in the crowd will voice their displeasure. In the build-up to the matches, players who have made themselves available for every match will be asked for their thoughts on the matter.
Trent Alexander-Arnold in his Real Madrid training kit
Trent Alexander-Arnold has settled in at Real Madrid after last summer's move(Image: Getty Images)
View 3 Images
And it will be one of the first questions put to Tuchel when he speaks on the eve of the Uruguay match. It will not bother Tuchel, not one iota.
Why would he have any interest in any arguments about patriotism? He is here as a professional, not as a patriot.
But the most pertinent question concerns White’s selection ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold. Not just White’s selection ahead of Alexander-Arnold, but Tino Livramento’s and Djed Spence’s (not to mention Jarell Quansah, who is now injured).
Ok, there are suggestions Alexander-Arnold was dropped from Real’s starting lineup for the Madrid derby, but he came on to provide the assist for the Vinicius Junior winner. But meanwhile, White was having a poor game in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup loss to Manchester City in front of Tuchel, Livramento was having another forgettable cameo for Newcastle United in their home defeat to Sunderland, and Spence was being hooked at half-time of Tottenham Hotspur’s surrender to Nottingham Forest.
Ben White talks with Gareth Southgate in 2022
Gareth Southgate denies his assistant Steve Holland had a fall-out with Ben White(Image: Getty Images)
View 3 Images
White is a decent player but the bottom line is that if Tuchel is thinking of him as a possibly important part of his World Cup squad, it is a worrying sign.
Hopefully, Reece James will be fit and if he did not have whatever he has against Alexander-Arnold, Tuchel would have two highly accomplished and adventurous right-backs at his disposal. Alexander-Arnold is a Champions League right-back for Real Madrid, for goodness sake.
Perhaps White will explain all when he is on duty over this next week or so. But whether what he brings to the England table is worth the sideshow is very much open to debate.
England's 2026 World Cup kits
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Content Image
Content Image