by Gareth Southgate has revealed that Ben White does not want to be considered for England selection, saying he had to go public with the truth because his own credibility would be at risk if he continued to “defend” the Arsenal player.
Southgate wanted to call up White for the upcoming Wembley friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, with the Football Association making inquiries about adding him to the long pre-announced squad list. White, unpaid for Arsenal as they climbed to the top of the Premier League and into the quarter-finals of the Champions League, went home early from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – his last involvement with England. Southgate said Arsenal technical director Edu phoned his FA counterpart John McDermott to say White was unavailable. Southgate, who has not spoken to White in recent weeks, said he did not know why the defender did not want to play for England.
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The manager recalled Ivan Toney and Joe Gomez and gave first calls to Jarrad Branthwaite and Anthony Gordon. He was forced to deal with a number of injury absentees, bringing in Kieran Trippier, Luke Shaw, Reece James, Levi Colwill, Marc Guéhi, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jack Grealish and Callum Wilson. Ben Chilwell and Harry Maguire are in despite missing club games recently.
Southgate has dropped Kalvin Phillips, having decided he could no longer stick with the midfielder given his struggles for form, and there was no place for Rico Lewis, Fikayo Tomori or Raheem Sterling. White was the most impressive story. Arsenal announced earlier that he had signed a new four-year contract with the option of an additional year. They had negative headlines coming down the track.
“In these situations I have tried to protect players,” Southgate said. “That’s obviously impossible at this point [with White]. Because the time is trying to come off the long list and the fact that … I don’t have huge credibility but there wouldn’t be any if I didn’t choose it on the form.
“I don’t think it would be right not to mention the situation we are in. We explained to Arsenal that we were going to do that. And if you make a decision like that, you have to stand by it.”
Southgate wanted to “keep the door open” for White but admitted there was no chance he would go to the European Championships in Germany this summer. White is understood to be ready to return at some point.
“I don’t want there to be a backlash [against White],” Southgate said. “I understand that we are in a situation where that could happen. For me, the shame is that he is a player I like. I would have chosen him. But it’s not an option open to me. I totally respect him.
“I haven’t spoken to him since this decision because I think it would be like the last conversation I had with him after Qatar. I could feel a delay there and I felt that I should back away from him. I think it’s him now.”
White did not feel comfortable in Qatar, which is why he asked to go home, but Southgate said he could not reveal the details of why the player’s international career was on hold. He attacked the notion that it was due to a question with his assistant Steve Holland.
“You would have to speak to him or Arsenal to understand,” Southgate said. “For me, England was the highlight. But I was not at a club going for the league title or in the last rounds of the Champions League. Everyone is wired differently. Obviously there is a reason. But I don’t know the full reason.”
Toney is back at the first hour of questioning following his eight-month ban for breaking FA betting rules, while Southgate spoke effusively of the centre-forward’s “excellent quality” and “fantastic self-belief”. He added that Toney’s suspension “was in the past … it has to go on now, everybody has.”
On Phillips, Southgate said he could not “be confident with the performances he’s had over the last few weeks that he can go on the pitch and do the job we know he can do”. He added: “Maybe this is a time when you think it’s the lowest you can get for him … now he can go for it and be himself.”
There was an update on Shaw, who he confirmed was touch and go for the finals. “We all hope – us and Manchester United – that he can be back just before the end of the league season,” he said. “But that is having a big impact on the Euros and there is a truth about whether it is possible to play seven games in the Euros. It’s getting fit to play but it’s also what it means in terms of the level of performance.”
Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal).
Defendants Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Manchester City ). ).
Middle of the field Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), James Maddison (Tottenham), Declan Rice (Arsenal).
Forward Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford). ), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
Southgate made his personal position clear again; he is fully focused on delivering at the Euros and therefore means winning the tournament. Only then would he consider his next move – whether to stay or leave. He is under contract until December. The FA would love to extend the 2026 World Cup.
“We have consciously put aside any internal discussions about what might happen next,” Southgate said. “Because we sat down and signed a new contract and did it before the competition, everyone would have said: ‘Well, you did this with [Fabio] Capello [before the 2010 World Cup] and you should prove yourself before you sign.’ I have no idea where we will be in the middle of July except I hope it will be Trafalgar Square and we will get the party going.
“I think that [new contract talks] it could have a negative impact on the team’s reaction. The team wants to have the best possible run in this competition.”
