Ben White is back in the fold for England after not featuring for the Three Lions ever since he walked out of the 2022 World Cup. The Arsenal defender made his long-awaited return under Thomas Tuchel during the 1-1 draw against Uruguay.
However, not everyone is happy to see White back in the team. Many fans loudly booed as he scored the opening goal in his first game back in action for his country. One of the main reasons people aren't thrilled about his return is the mystery that still surrounds his departure during the Qatar World Cup more than three years ago.
It has been widely reported that Arsenal's number four fell out with Gareth Southgate's assistant manager at the time, Steve Holland. White decided to leave the England camp after the final group game against Wales, after a reported dressing-down by Holland.
Ben White Accused of Being 'Disrespectful'
Ben White
Speaking on talkSPORT following White's first game back, former Three Lions defender Danny Mills hit out at the 'disrespectful' Arsenal star. He also claimed to have insider information when it comes to his Qatar exit.
Neither White nor Holland have actually confirmed whether the speculated fallout out really happened or if it was the main factor behind the 27-year-old's decision to leave. However, Mills has claimed Southgate and Holland never did anything wrong.
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He said: "There has been no story that has ever come out of the World Cup when Ben White left to say that Gareth did something wrong or Steve Holland did something wrong.
"There is no way on this planet in four years that if there was a big story that would have not come out because a player would have told an agent, a friend, that somebody would know and that story would be out there."
The 48-year-old, who earned 19 England caps during his playing career, then went on to suggest White refused to do some analytical work that had been given to him. He continued:
"If I was in the England squad and I was asked to do a certain job, and I was asked to go and look at some tactical analysis or I was asked to look at something, and I didn't do that I was then pulled up on that.
"Why should I have an incident? I was asked to do a job, but I didn't do that. One, that's disrespectful."
He left the camp before the last 16 tie with Senegal, where a win would set up a clash with France in the next round. Mills then implied White wouldn't do his homework on French striker Olivier Giroud: "So if I was asked to pick up Olivier Giroud from a corner and I went, 'you know what, I'm not doing that, I'm not looking at his movement, I'm not going to see what he does. No, I'm not doing it.'"
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Thomas Tuchel Responds to Ben White Boos
Thomas Tuchel
Following the Wembley Stadium jeers for White against Uruguay, current England boss Thomas Tuchel made his disappointment very clear. The German coach vowed to 'protect' all of his players, as he said:
"I heard that he was booed. It cannot be the majority. There were some boos and some mixed reception for him which I’m disappointed about because of course we protect our players. He was excellent in camp and he deserved to come on. He got us almost a winner.
"But I also understood that it happened to other players before here. So he needs to take it on the chin. We will always protect him and hopefully we can put it behind, because he is ready to write some new chapters."