Ben White has begun the process of explaining to his England team-mates why he walked out of the 2022 World Cup and absented himself for more than two years, Thomas Tuchel has confirmed.
The England head coach added that White needed to “clear the air” and stated that he “deserves a second chance” after refusing to be called up under Sir Gareth Southgate and also Lee Carsley.
“I’m not sure if ‘apologise’ is the right word, but maybe just to clear the air with the players who were there, I think he has done and will do with the majority of the players who come now,” Tuchel explained of White who, he admitted, “didn’t want to speak about it,” when asked directly about what happened by the German.
Tuchel caused controversy when he called up White – who he said was “emotional” about being selected – on Monday following the withdrawal of Jarell Quansah, having again overlooked Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold. Tuchel confirmed he had now spoken to Alexander-Arnold about the decision, something he had not done last week.
“We had a call. I tried to explain the situation. But he just has to accept it,” Tuchel revealed ahead of Friday’s friendly against Uruguay at Wembley.
‘I want to give him a second chance’
Telegraph Sport revealed that the rift that led to White leaving Qatar began with a barbed comment from Southgate’s assistant Steve Holland in front of England team-mates.
The FA made the announcement that White had left for “personal reasons” and asked for his privacy to be respected – as did his club, Arsenal. But no one has publicly explained what happened and White has said nothing.
White continued to rule himself out even after Southgate left, following the Euro 2024 final, and when Carsley was interim head coach.
Asked about White, Tuchel said: “If you believe it or not, I didn’t hear a story about it. I asked him and he didn’t want to speak about it. I didn’t want to know about it because I think he deserves a second chance. I want to give him a second chance. He has not put a foot wrong with me.”
He added: “Something must have happened, because if a player leaves from a tournament it’s never good and it never can be nothing… He trains on a very high level, exceptionally good in training. The reaction to his call-up was very positive. Within seconds, it was a very positive and emotional reaction from him. He made it very clear how delighted he is to be back. This is what he has shown in the last days.
“Everyone deserves a second chance, but I don’t even know if he did something wrong or what exactly happened. But an explanation among the players who were there, to clear the air, is sure in progress.”
Tuchel has divided his 35-man squad into two groups, with 11 players – including captain Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka – given time off until Saturday before a friendly against Japan on Tuesday. That trio were at the last World Cup when White quit, while Rice and Saka are, of course, team-mates of his at Arsenal.
However, there are already eight players in the current squad – Jordan Pickford, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Aaron Ramsdale – who also went to Qatar.
The reaction at Wembley will be interesting should the 28-year-old get on the pitch against Uruguay to earn his first cap since a friendly against the Cote d’Ivoire in March 2022.
Tuchel pleaded with White to receive “support because he plays for England and we play in a positive moment”. He added: “I can imagine there are some strong opinions out there, but nobody is in camp who has made the strongest opinions, so yeah, he deserves a second chance.
“People have to trust me that he behaves very, very well. He was positive about coming back and was desperate for many months to come back. Now he has the chance because Jarell Quansah pulled out through injury and he is eager to prove a point. Hopefully people give him a fair chance.”
‘No issues’ taking Maguire to US
Harry Maguire is expected to start on Friday and Tuchel said he had been assured there were “no issues” about selecting the centre-half for his World Cup squad that will travel to the United States in June.
Maguire’s lawyers are adamant that the Manchester United defender does not have a criminal record and has complete freedom to travel, despite being convicted earlier this month in a Greek court and handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence.
Both factors are crucial to Maguire going to the US because either one could prevent him from being granted a US visa, and therefore bar him from entering America.
However Tuchel, when asked, sought to assuage any concerns. “I think there will be no issues. This is my last understanding of the matter. I trust the people [who told me that],” he said.
Maguire’s legal team have filed papers to inform the Greek authorities of their intention to appeal the verdict in the Supreme Court in Athens.
The 33-year-old was found guilty of three counts of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery – charges he has always denied ever since he was first arrested during a family holiday in Mykonos six years ago.