MIRROR
Ben White has been left out of Gareth Southgate’s provisional England squad, three years after saying he “cried for an hour” after his Euro 2020 call-up.
Before the last European Championships, White was a late call-up to the squad after Trent Alexander-Arnold suffered a tournament ending injury. The then Brighton & Hove Albion defender did not make an appearance during the Three Lions’ run to the final, but did play the full 90 minutes of a pre-tournament friendly against Romania.
However, the Arsenal star appears to be on the England periphery ever since he left the squad during the last World Cup for personal reasons. It’s also understood White asked not to be called up for friendlies against Brazil and Belgium in March, asking Arsenal sporting director Edu to tell Southgate on his behalf.
White, who has four international caps for England, will not be involved in the tournament in Germany. His joyful reaction to being selected for Euro 2020 now feels like a long time ago.
Soon after his call-up was announced, White told Sky Sports: “I got a phone call, got told the news, I was out for dinner, I didn’t really believe it! Obviously speaking to Dan (Ashworth), he told me all the news, when I was going, it was obviously unbelievable.
“I put the phone down, rang my mum straight away, sat down there, cried, mum was crying, mum, my dad, had all my sisters there and, yeah, I just sat and cried for about an hour. I coudn’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 really. No pressure, I’ve got to go what I’ve got to do, do my best and if I get game time, I’ve got to produce my quality and show what I’ve got.”
