White booed by England fans as second-string squad struggles to impress
England 1-1 Uruguay
When Ben White agreed to return for England duty after more than three years in international exile, he would have hoped for a low-key comeback that attracted no more attention than necessary.
By the final whistle, he had played little more than 20 minutes, scored a goal, conceded a penalty and been booed at every juncture by the home crowd. Of all those events, it was the roar of disapproval that greeted his name being announced as the England goalscorer – his first for his country in five caps – that was most remarkable. This is not an England crowd that forgives easily.
If White was in any doubt, he will know now that his withdrawal mid-tournamentfrom the 2022 Qatar World Cup is destined to follow him around forever. He was booed when he came on as a second-half substitute – his first England appearance in almost four years. He was booed when he scored, and one suspects that had someone announced him as man of the match, he would have been booed for that too.
Meanwhile, it was fierce on the touchline where Thomas Tuchel was furious with the match officials – fellow Germans – for two decisions in particular that changed the course of the game.
The first was the refusal to dismiss defender Ronald Araújo for a dismal second-half challenge on Phil Foden that might yet have repercussions for the Manchester City man’s fitness. The German coach was not particularly happy with a tackle on Noni Madueke in the first half that forced the winger off early, either.
Then there was the small matter of the softest of penalty awards in the third minute of time added on at the end when referee Sven Jablonski judged White to have gone with a high boot on Federico Viñas. The referee was referred to the screen by his VAR Sören Storks and decided it reached the threshold. Federico Valverde dispatched the equaliser from the spot in the 95th minute.
By the time Tuchel came in for his press conference, there was still a lingering doubt over whether the Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte had been issued with two yellow cards – but not the crucial red required in those circumstances. The ITV coverage turned out to have been deceived. The earlier yellow was not for Ugarte but for the first-half substitute José Maria Giménez, who had argued with Jablonski.
Nevertheless, Tuchel said it was extraordinary that VAR had asked Jablonski to take a second look at the White challenge and not for what he considered that “brutal” foul by Araújo on Foden.
At the very least, the Football Association could say that it had got its money’s worth in inviting Uruguay to Wembley – this was a friendly with all the trimmings. It was underpinned by the unmistakable threat from Uruguay that they would do whatever it took not to lose, in a game which they contested with the fervour of a World Cup final.
A midfield led by the superb Valverde, as well as a brutal South American defence and an opponent who went all the way to the last kick in pursuit of their equaliser. Tuchel said later that Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa had called him weeks ago to say that his team would be taking this game very seriously indeed.
It might even have ended in defeat for England had it not been for two fine late blocks from the indefatigable Harry Maguire. The second string selected for this match were watched from the Wembley VIP seats by the next wave of Tuchel’s 35-strong squad who will take many of the starting places for Tuesday’s friendly against Japan.
For much of it, there was a general anxiety about England on how to break down an opponent that was indifferent about having the ball but committed to stopping anyone else from doing anything interesting with it.
At the heart of this problem was Foden, playing for his World Cup place and forever concerned that his time was running out. Tuchel was less than effusive about Foden afterwards, praising his defensive instincts in the training sessions the day before. He said that Foden had shown himself able to play as a No 8 but lamented his lack of “adventurousness” when he was asked to shift to a No 10 role.
The foul on Foden was hard to watch on replay. Araújo did not have to lunge with such disproportionate ferocity and power. The unexpected nature of it meant that Foden had no time to move his left leg out of the way. The impact turned him upside down, and Tuchel was furious. “A leg breaker” was how he described it to the German fourth official, according to those in close proximity.
Foden had been boxed into that black hole in front of the Uruguay defence time and again. Marcus Rashford’s pace on the left wing created the impetus for England’s best first-half attack but generally they could not cope with the well-disciplined lines of Uruguay, and their swarming energy when any opponent tried to break them. There was only one shot on target – by England – between both teams in the first half.
Even when Tuchel made his major changes at 69 minutes – which was when White came on, along with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Cole Palmer and Kobbie Mainoo – the game did not shift. Indeed, it swung towards Uruguay in terms of possession. Palmer did manage a whipped free-kick from the right with his left foot that was right on target for Calvert-Lewin, but upon which the Leeds man could not apply a decisive touch towards goal.
For the goal it was another Palmer set-piece, a corner this time, flicked on by Calvert-Lewin and just touched in at the foot of the far post by White. The Uruguay players wanted it disallowed for Adam Wharton’s collision with Giménez, although that was one VAR call that did go the way of England. Then came the late penalty for Uruguay and another outburst from Tuchel.
Tuchel defends White after becoming latest target for Wembley crowd
Thomas Tuchel said he was disappointed Ben White was jeered by England fans after scoring at Wembley in the draw with Uruguay.
White was loudly booed by supporters for making himself unavailable for the country following the last World Cup, when he returned mid-tournament for personal reasons.
On his first recall to the squad, the Arsenal defender was targeted by fans when he came off the bench, then when he opened the scoring against the South American opponents. That goal with nine minutes remaining looked likely to win England a bad-tempered game but White gave away a late penalty that was scored by Federico Valverde.
White is not the first England player to be booed by the Wembley crowd with Ashley Cole, Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson all suffering the same fate.
“It was too good to be true when he scored the winner which in the end was not a winner,” said Tuchel. “This happened before to some players here which is disappointing because I don’t think it helps anyone.
“I’m disappointed about it because of course we protect our players. Ben was excellent in camp and he deserved to come on, he deserved also to start, he got us almost a winner. But I also understood that it happened to other players before here. So he needs to take it on the chin.
“We will always protect him and hopefully we can put it behind, because he is ready to write some new chapters and we are ready to give him the chance. So hopefully everyone can move on and accept it.”
White was brought on in the 69th minute and was booed when his name was read out by the stadium announcer. He scored in the 81st minute after Cole Palmer’s corner was flicked on by Dominic Calvert-Lewin. In stoppage-time, White’s challenge on Federico Vinas was penalised after a VAR review.
“In the end he was perhaps too greedy in his defensive actions but it was not a penalty,” said Tuchel, who was furious with the refereeing at Wembley. He was upset with a challenge on Phil Foden that led to the Manchester City midfielder being subbed.
Noni Madueke also left Wembley in a knee brace after a first-half tackle from Rodrigo Aguirre that forced him off. Tuchel refused to shake the hand of referee Sven Jablonski and then rowed with fourth official Benjamin Brand down the tunnel.
“It was the test that I expected. It was a bit feisty and tough. I knew from months ago, (Marcelo) Bielsa called me and told me that they would take it very seriously,” added Tuchel.
“I think we deserved to win. We had two big chances off set-pieces, otherwise half-chances and deliveries. We lost two key players to injury which made it difficult with Noni and Phil Foden in moments where we were very strong. A lot of obstacles to overcome but I liked the positivity, the attitude and the performance.”
[Source: Daily Telegraph]
