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For any professional player, representing the country in battle should be a matter of great honor. However, Arsenal's right-back Ben White is an exception to this category. Since announcing his withdrawal from the national team midway through the 2022 World Cup campaign, he has never been selected for the England national team again. It is reported that the England coach has been inviting him to return, but he has consistently refused. What exactly happened here?
Ben White has been a key player for Arsenal in the right-back position for several years, trusted by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. However, he didn't hold the same status in the England national team. With formidable right-backs like Reece James, Kieran Trippier, and Kyle Walker, White was at most the fourth choice for the position, which led to his departure from the national team.
According to The Telegraph, the catalyst for this situation dates back to the 2022 World Cup when White had a conflict with England assistant coach Steve Holland. Reportedly, Holland accused White of not being committed enough to football and not taking his role as the fourth substitute seriously in front of other players. Feeling insulted, White applied to leave the England team early and has not played under Gareth Southgate since. Even when Southgate attempted to recall him to the national team, White requested his club to decline the invitation on his behalf.
While Southgate hasn't publicly denied the incident, many aspects confirm the conflict between White and Holland. Moreover, White himself doesn't harbor real animosity towards the national team. He previously expressed online that being selected for the national team was a childhood dream. If the allegations are true, it reflects poorly on Holland's professional ethics, showing little consideration for the players' feelings. As for whether White will be selected for the national team again, Southgate stated that England's door is always open to him, and everything can be considered water under the bridge if he chooses to return. |
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