Arsenal’s Ben White recently revealed a heated confrontation with England’s assistant manager, Steve Holland, during his last stint with the national team.
This incident unfolded amidst White’s decision to step away from national team duties, surprising both England manager Gareth Southgate and the team’s technical staff.
During a press conference, Southgate disclosed that White had directly informed him of his unavailability for selection, while Arsenal’s sporting director, Edu, conveyed the decision to John McDermott, the technical director for England.
However, the reasons behind White’s withdrawal remained mysterious, with Southgate admitting his own lack of insight into the defender’s motivations for opting out of England’s campaign at Euro 2024.
Insights from The Athletic highlighted a tense exchange between White and Holland during England’s World Cup campaign in Qatar.
Allegedly, Holland was frustrated by White’s perceived disregard for tactical instructions and training data.
Additionally, White’s candid admission about his diminishing enthusiasm for football further exacerbated tensions, as he expressed a preference to unwind away from the game following exhaustive training sessions and meetings.
However, White’s disengagement from the England camp cannot be directly attributed to his altercation with Holland.
Southgate was quick to dispel any notions of animosity between White and Holland, affirming his admiration for White’s on-field prowess and professionalism.
He emphasized the common occurrence of players occasionally opting out of national team selection, emphasizing his commitment to maintaining an open dialogue and preserving relationships with players, even amidst such decisions.
Southgate adamantly rejected the notion that Holland’s purported friction with White played a role in the defender’s absence from the squad, asserting his unwillingness to allow unsubstantiated rumors to tarnish the reputation of a valued member of his coaching team.
He underscored his respect for White and his desire to preserve positive relationships within the team.
