Declan Rice seeks to persuade Ben White for England comeback
Published on: March 26, 2024.
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Declan Rice and Arsenal teammates urge Ben White to reconsider England availability for European Championship
The European Championship is set to kick off on June 14, and England coach Gareth Southgate faces a difficult decision regarding the availability of Arsenal defender Ben White. Despite not playing for England since leaving the World Cup camp in November 2022, White had requested to be excluded from the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium. However, Southgate will need to consider prioritizing White over players who participated in the friendly games during the international break.
Midfielder Declan Rice, alongside other Arsenal players, plans to approach White and discuss the possibility of him changing his mind. Rice describes White as a versatile player who can excel in three different positions: centre-back, right-back, and inverted full-back. This adaptability is seen as crucial during tournaments like the European Championship.
Rice expressed his desire for White to join the England national side, with Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale sharing the same sentiment. The Arsenal players plan to persuade White upon their return to the club after the international break.
It was reported that White returned early from Qatar due to personal reasons, as stated by the England Football Association. However, there were later allegations of a clash between White and England assistant Steve Holland, which Southgate has denied.
Sources: Source
