Ben White cried after England phone call, told he 'shouldn't play again', sudden U-turn

View 3 Images

Ben White’s call up to the England national team for this month’s friendly fixtures was a huge shock. It was announced on Monday morning that England manager Thomas Tuchel has picked the Arsenal defender as part of his 35-man squad to face Uruguay and Japan in preparation for this summer’s World Cup .

White was initially left out but was called up after Jarell Quansah pulled out of the squad with an injury. It marks the first time in over three years that the 28-year-old will join up with his Three Lions team-mates.

He has not played for England since 2022, having left camp during the World Cup 2022 in Qatar following a falling out with then-manager Gareth Southgate ’s assistant coach, Steve Holland. White reportedly refused to play for the Three Lions while Southgate was still in charge and even informed him that he was putting himself out of contention ahead of Euro 2024.

FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

But Tuchel has now revived White’s career, with the defender back in contention for a spot at the upcoming World Cup. Mirror Football takes a look at White’s rollercoaster England career, from the high of first being selected to the low of his bitter Qatar bust-up and eventual U-turn.

Representing his country seemingly means a great deal to White, who shed tears of joy after receiving a last-minute call-up to the postponed Euro 2020 following an injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold . Recalling the moment his selection was confirmed, White told Sky Sports : "I got a phone call, got told the news. I was out for dinner, I didn't really believe it!

"Yeah, I just sat and cried for about an hour. I couldn't really believe it and I don't think it's settled in yet. I didn't really think that I would be called.

"I thought it was a bit too late because I've heard you get called way before it. But I obviously didn't and when that call did come I was over the moon with it and shocked."

White, who featured in friendlies leading up to the tournament, didn’t get the opportunity to step onto the pitch during England's Euro 2020 journey, which ended in final defeat to Italy on penalties. The last time he represented his country was back in March 2022 against Ivory Coast, which was his fourth cap in two years.

View 3 Images

Former Liverpool forward Stan Collymore claimed the Arsenal defender should "never be called up again" after it emerged he had told Southgate he didn’t want to be picked for Euro 2024.

Collymore told Caught Offside ahead of Euro 2024: "The biggest talking point from Gareth Southgate’s latest England squad is that Ben White refused to be called up. The defender, according to The Athletic, doesn’t want to represent his country for several reasons, including finding it difficult being further down in Southgate’s pecking order.

"Firstly, and assuming The Athletic’s report is accurate, what a disgrace. If every player took that same stance, international football would be chaos and probably couldn’t happen. Being called up to represent your county is an honour, you should want to do it regardless of whether you’re the first name on the manager’s teamsheet or the last."

Collymore added: "Even though I am incredibly disappointed a player has made this decision, I don’t think it’s a great loss to England. White is having a decent season for Arsenal but I don’t think he’s good enough anyway.

"Credit where it’s due - he is certainly versatile - he can play at right back, centre-back and even drift into midfield, but there is no way he’s going to get in ahead of Kyle Walker or John Stones , both of whom can also play those roles.

"So for me, thanks but no thanks, Mr White. We know you want to be a nailed-on starter but you can’t always get exactly what you want, especially at international level and especially in tournament football. It’s a squad game and if you’re lucky enough to get a chance, it’s on you to take it, but he’s refused the opportunity. In my opinion, he should never be called up again - regardless of who is in charge."

View 3 Images

Following Southgate’s exit after England's Euro 2024 final defeat, the FA appointed England U21s boss Lee Carsley as interim head coach. That led to rumours of White potentially earning another call up, though Carsley insisted nothing had officially changed.

After not picking White in his squad for the Nations League games against Ireland and Finland, Carsley said: "I've seen in some of the press reports that he was open to [returning] but it's gone no further. So, as far as I'm aware, he wasn't available for selection. Nothing's changed in my two weeks of being here."

Carsley offered some hope to White, though, adding: "Any player that’s playing well in the Premier League , that’s playing week in, week out, especially at the level that Arsenal play at, is obviously going to be under consideration. But he wasn’t one based on what his wishes from the past [were]."

However, Tuchel’s comments following his own appointment in late 2024 indicated that the right-back had a future at international level, having said: "He [White] would love to be back in the squad. I just think it’s a bit too early now given the seriousness of the injury that he had.

"We are honoured speaking to him, speaking to Ben, delighted that he’s back on the bench. Now it’s just a question of getting more minutes, more rhythm. He wants to be back."