Ben White’s snake opens a new chapter. The British media reveal that Arsenal’s defense, who had made the decision not to be selectable with England, would have spoken with Thomas Tuchel. However, it is not yet known if that conversation would be to confirm its status or to count again in the plans of the new coach.
Tuchel officially amounted to the position of England coach on January 1, 2025. Before, during the 2026 World Cup raffle, he had already declared to the media that he would contact White to know his current situation. And this, despite the fact that the player had been in the dry dock since November after passing through the operating room with knee problems.
A Tuchel who has had a lot of work
White returned to the game land in the match against West Ham last February 22, and Arteta did not hesitate to praise him. “He is a very special player, it is great to have him back. We have certainly missed him,” said the Spanish coach. Now, with a new coach of the ‘Three Lions’, things may be changed, although it has not transcended what the content of the conversation between coach and player has been.
Tuchel has been seen witnessing more than 20 football matches in its first seven weeks as a coach. He has traveled several countries (England, Italy, Spain and Germany) and has contacted many players both in person and by video call. He has also transpired that he has spoken with men like James Maddison, of Tottenham.
The first call of the German is expected for a few weeks. England plays next March two classification games for the 2026 World Cup against Albania (on the 21st) and Latvia (on the 24th). Only that list will serve to clear the doubts about Ben White’s situation.
Thomas Tuchel, during his presentation as a coach of England.efe
Chronicle of a disagreement
It all started on November 30, 2022. The England team had passed the group stage of the Qatar World Cup in a solvent way, with victories against Iran and Wales and a draw against the United States. However, the news was not the classification of the ‘Three Lions’ to the next phase. Ben White, the Arsenal defender, had decided to leave the call and return home alleging “personal motifs.”
At the time, it was already speculated on what could be the reason why the player could have decided to leave the World Cup. It was rumored that he would not have become accustomed to his secondary role, since he had not played a minute and in fact he was not summoned in the encounter against Wales for being sick.
However, the ‘Daily Star’ first and ‘The Athletic’ later revealed an argument between White and Steve Holland, one of the assistants of the then coach Gareth Southgate. Apparently, White received a reprimand in front of his teammates for not taking the competition seriously, since he would have gone to the meeting prior to the meeting against the United States without preparing statistics and without knowing the data on the rival.
Gareth Southgate denied these accusations from the beginning, stating that he did not want to talk about the subject because that would mean giving credibility. Something more than a year later, during the March window of friendly preparation for the Eurocup of 2024, he was overwhelmed again: “Arsenal called us last week to tell us that he does not want to be summoned at this time. It is a great Too bad.
Gareth Southgate, during the final of last Eurocup 2024.Efe
Southgate also took the opportunity to deny any problem with Steve Holland: “The only thing I know is that there is no prolema between us at all. Nor with Steve Holland. It has been mentioned in some articles and I don’t like that. That is not the reason why The one that Ben is not available for the selection. ”
The support of his club … and the criticisms of England
Arsenal does claim to know the reasons that led Ben White to declare themselves not selectable, but they have not made them public. The player, who arrived at the ‘Gunners’ in 2021 for 58.5 million euros and has a contract until 2029, has all the support of his club. What he does not have is the understanding of a good part of English society, which he understands as an affront to his country that will abandon the concentration during the World Cup.
Harry Redknapp, former Tottenham, was one of the most critical with White. He came to sentence that, if at some point he wanted to return with England, “they should close the door in the noses.” Television commentator Ally McCoist has been the last to join. “It is not yet known why I make that decision. If he did because at that time he did not feel like playing, then Harry Redknapp is right, we must find the door in his noses. What most people can’t accept is Give your back to your country.