England manager Thomas Tuchel expressed disappointment after supporters booed Ben White, who scored and conceded a late penalty in a 1-1 friendly draw against Uruguay.
England boss Thomas Tuchel admitted his disappointment after supporters booed Ben White during his return from a self-imposed international exile in Friday’s 1-1 friendly draw against Uruguay.
White received a hostile reception when he came off the bench in the second half at Wembley Stadium. The 28-year-old appeared to silence critics when he tapped in England’s 81st-minute opener, only for his night to take another twist when he conceded a stoppage-time penalty that Federico Valverde converted to rescue a draw.
Playing his first England match since the 2022 FIFA World Cup, White was loudly jeered when his name was announced after his maiden senior international goal. The reaction highlighted lingering tensions following his absence from the national team setup over recent years.
White left England’s World Cup camp in Qatar during the knockout phase for what the English Football Association described as personal reasons. Reports later suggested a disagreement with assistant coach Steve Holland, something repeatedly denied by then manager Gareth Southgate, who later confirmed in 2024 that White had made himself unavailable for selection.
Reflecting on the mixed reception, Tuchel expressed sympathy for the defender and questioned the impact of the crowd’s reaction. “This happened before to some players here, which is disappointing because I don’t think it helps anyone,” he said. The German added that White’s performance showed both attacking quality and defensive eagerness, though he felt the penalty decision was harsh.
Harry Maguire on Ben White: “A bit crazy, scoring the first goal. I thought he was brilliant when he came on.
“I can’t say anything about the defending for that one [the penalty] – if that was me in that position I’d be attempting to block the shot as well. That’s what we’ve… pic.twitter.com/iOvUGmFBzM
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley) March 27, 2026
England centre-back Harry Maguire also defended his teammate, praising White’s contribution after coming on. Maguire described the defender as brilliant and highlighted the positive energy he had brought to the squad throughout the week, insisting the late penalty was a soft decision.
Maguire argued that White’s challenge was part of normal defensive play inside the box and not malicious. Despite the chaotic cameo, both Tuchel and Maguire emphasised the positives from White’s return, hoping the focus shifts back to football rather than the crowd reaction as England continue their preparations.
