BEN WHITE should never be picked for England again according to ex-Three Lions star Nicky Butt.
New England boss Thomas Tuchel is tipped to name White tomorrow in the first squad of his reign after the Arsenal defender spent two years in self-imposed exile.
GettyBen White could be set to return to the England setup after more than two years in exile[/caption]
GettyThomas Tuchel is preparing to name his first Three Lions squad[/caption]
GettyEx-Man Utd star Nicky Butt has urged Tuchel not to select White[/caption]
But Butt says White’s decision not to make himself available since a bust-up at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar should end his international career.
The former Manchester United midfielder said: “He is good enough to go in the squad, he’s a top player.
“But he’s not that good to beg him to come back.
“He’s not a Shearer in his day, he’s not a Gascoigne in his day.
“There’s been a few over the years who have said, ‘I don’t want to play’ or ‘I want to get ready for next season’,
“In other words, ‘I don’t want to play’ or ‘I don’t want to be sub’.
“Once you break that, I don’t think there should be any way back.”
White, 27, flew home before the World Cup began in December 2022 amid reports that he was unhappy with a “barbed comment” made by boss Gareth Southgate’s assistant, Steve Holland.
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Butt is also against the FA’s “sad” decision to appoint a German manager.
Butt, 50, told talkSPORT: “He’s obviously an amazing coach.
“But I’m an Englishman who played for my country and is passionate about my country.
“It doesn’t sit well with me. We’ve got enough good coaches in England to give them a chance.”
Tuchel is working off a massive 55-man list ahead of naming his first England squad.
The new Three Lions manager will name his first squad next week for the home World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
Southgate vs Tuchel records compared
THOMAS TUCHEL
Augsburg II 2007-2008
P34 W 20 D8 L6 Win percentage: 58.82%
Mainz 05 2009-2014
P184 W72 D46 L66 Win percentage: 39.13%
Borussia Dortmund 2015-2017
P107 W67 D23 L17 Win percentage: 62.62%
Honours: DFB Pokal
Paris Saint Germain 2018-2020
P127 W95 D13 L16 Win percentage: 74.8%
Honours: Ligue 1 X2, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Trophee des Champions x2
Chelsea 2021-2022
P100 W60 D24 L16 Win percentage: 60%
Honours: Champions League, Super Cup, Club World Cup
Bayern Munich 2023-2024
P61 W37 D8 L16 Win percentage: 60.66%
Honours: Bundesliga
GARETH SOUTHGATE
Middlesbrough 2006-2009
P151 W54 D43 Win percentage: 35.76%
England U21 2013-2016
P37 W27 D5 L5 Win percentage: 72.97%
Honours: Toulon tournament
England 2016-2024
P102 W61 D24 L17 Win percentage: 59.8%
Honours: Euros runners up, 2020, 2024
The 51-year-old succeeds Southgate and has signed an 18-month contract which will end after the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Tuchel’s first game against Albania on March 21 is already a Wembley sell-out.
The game against Latvia three days later is expected to attract a crowd of at least 70,000.
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