Ben White of Arsenal has left the England National Team’s Squad in Qatar and returned home due to reason termed “personal.”
It’s unlikely that the Arsenal defender will rejoin the team for the rest of the competition.
After a strong start to the season with the Gunners, the 25-year-old was included to Gareth Southgate’s 26-man World Cup roster.
White was absent from England’s first two Group B games due to illness, and he was also absent from Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Wales.
“We ask that the player’s privacy is respected at this moment in time,” a statement from the Football Association read.
At this point of the World Cup, replacements are not permitted. Arsenal published the FA’s announcement on their social media accounts with the comment “We’re all with you, Ben” and a heart emoji.
White participated in his second big competition with England after being a part of the group that advanced to the European Championship final the previous summer.
The defender has only received two caps since the event, bringing his total to four. He did not play during the competition.
Up until the White’s exit from England’s squad in Qatar, Southgate’s original choice was unaltered.
After being substituted during Leicester’s final game, James Maddison appeared uncertain, but he was on the bench for Wales after recovering from the knee injury that caused him to miss the first two games.
As England defeated Wales on Tuesday, Kyle Walker made his first start since undergoing groin surgery in October, and Kalvin Phillips received some playing time as he recovers from a shoulder procedure.
Following their victory in Group B, England will face Senegal in the final 16 on Sunday.
Ben White
English professional footballer Benjamin William White (born 8 October 1997) competes for Premier League team Arsenal and the England national team as a defender. He can play as a right-back but is primarily a center-back.
With Brighton & Hove Albion, White started his professional club career at the age of 18 in 2016. Between 2016 and 2019, he was on loan to Leeds United, Peterborough United, and Newport County.
Later, he participated in the four English professional leagues and helped Leeds win the Championship. After spending a season at Brighton, White became the most expensive defender for Arsenal in 2021 when he signed with them in a transfer that set a club record for association football.
White, who was included for the 26-man team for UEFA Euro 2020, made his senior international debut for England in 2021 at the age of 23.
Ben White’s England Career
White was included in England’s preliminary 33-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020 on May 25, 2021. The competition would take place in the summer of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s postponement the previous year.
White had never before received a call-up to any level of the national team.
On June 1, seven players were cut from the team; nevertheless, those players were still included in the roster for the two exhibition matches against Austria and Romania.
At the Riverside Stadium on June 2, during England’s 1-0 victory over Austria, White made his international debut by coming on as a substitute and taking Jack Grealish’s place.
Alessandro Schöpf’s attempt was blocked by him, averting a late equalizer.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was injured, thus White was added to the 26-man team for Euro 2020 on June 7, 2021, to fill in for him.
England finished as the runners-up in the Championships event, and White did not play.
White was included in the 26-man England team roster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup on November 10, 2022.
On November 30, 2022, he quit the competition for personal reasons, and it was not anticipated that he would return.
How Good Is Ben White?
White can also play as a defensive midfielder or a right back. He is renowned as a ball-playing center back with good technical ability. Former manager Michael Flynn has lauded White for his fierce tackling technique.
White characterizes his playing style as “cool” and “quiet.” White is renowned for his brisk, ball-carrying forward runs, which facilitate lightning-quick deep counterattacks.
Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, praised White as “He’s “brave,” “very gifted,” and a “warrior,” and “he practices as though he’s in the Champions League game. That is why he has advanced so far in his career in such a short period of time.”
