27 March 2024 , 22:30
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Gareth Southgate insists the "door is open" for Ben White - but is not planning to call him ahead of the Euros.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice said he would talk to his team-mate when he is back on club duty and hoped to get White to change his mind. But Southgate said that he will leave it up to White because Arsenal contacted the FA and insisted that he did not want to be selected for the March get-together.
England boss Southgate said: "It's really for Ben now. Dec is obviously in a difficult situation you're asking him about a team-mate and he's going to be careful what he says. As I've said to you, the door is open for us.
"That's clearly difficult ahead of the Euros, where you've got players that have played all the way through but we have no idea of knowing who's going to be available in that area of the pitch.
"I respected the situation as Arsenal have contacted us. So in the end, I know the conversation I had with him last March. I felt I should back away from it a little bit. But I've always left the door open. I was keen to bring him in this camp."
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Rice, who captained England for the first time on his 50th cap against Belgium on Tuesday, said of White: "Ben is such a good guy and he is an unbelievable footballer. It is hard to know really what is going on but he has made his decision and he doesn't want to play for England at this moment in time."
Meanwhile, England centre-back Harry Maguire also offered his verdict on White's controversial decision to turn down a call-up to the squad. White last featured for the Three Lions back in March 2022 and was selected for the squad at the World Cup in Qatar, before leaving the camp midway through the tournament.
Ben White did not wish to be considered for the latest England squad (Getty Images)"Ben’s an excellent footballer," said Maguire. "He trained really well [at the World Cup before heading home early] but I honestly don’t know the ins and outs of why he’s not wanting to be in the squad at the moment.
"All I do know is that playing for your country is the greatest honour a footballer can get. When I was a young boy I dreamt of playing for my country. Every opportunity I get I will take. Playing for my country means absolutely everything to me."
After losing 1-0 against Brazil on Saturday, England scored a last-gasp equaliser to salvage a deserved draw against Belgium on Tuesday. Youri Tielemans scored twice for the Red Devils either side of an Ivan Toney equaliser, before Jude Bellingham struck his first Wembley goal in the 95th minute to earn a draw.
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