March 17th 2024.
Ben White, a defender for Arsenal, recently made the decision to not be considered for selection for the England team. This came as a surprise to many, including footballer Jermaine Jenas who described it as "strange". However, Jenas also sees it as an opportunity for other players, such as Jarrad Branthwaite, who could make his international debut this month.
On Thursday, England's head coach Gareth Southgate announced the squad for their upcoming warm-up matches against Brazil and Belgium. White, who has been in excellent form for Arsenal this season, was noticeably absent from the list. This comes after White's departure from England's training camp during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, which was followed by reports of a heated altercation with Steve Holland.
Southgate explained that White had requested not to be considered for selection through Arsenal's sporting director Edu. It is now highly unlikely that White will be included in England's squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament in Germany. When asked about White's availability, Southgate responded that it was a great shame and that he respected White's decision. He also mentioned that he had spoken to White after the Qatar incident and that there was some hesitation on White's side.
White recently signed a new contract with Arsenal, which makes his decision to not be considered for England even more surprising. The news of his snub has caused quite a divide, with some, like Harry Redknapp, criticizing White for his "disgusting" decision. However, Jenas takes a more understanding approach and believes that White may just want to focus on his club form.
Jenas acknowledges that not everyone is patriotic and that we should respect that. He believes that White may have his own reasons for not wanting to be selected for England, which could be related to his club career. Footballers are often expected to prioritize their national team, but Jenas feels that White's decision should be respected.
With White's absence, the door has opened for other players, including Branthwaite and Ezri Konsa, who could make their debuts for England at Wembley this month. Jenas sees this as an opportunity for the uncapped duo and believes that Branthwaite has earned his spot on the team with his performances for Everton this season.
Jenas also hopes that there will be no negative consequences for White due to his decision. He recognizes that White has been in excellent form for Arsenal and that ultimately, he should do what is best for his career. As for Southgate, he had to provide reasoning for White's exclusion from the squad, but it is clear that he believes White deserves to be there based on his current form. Only time will tell how this decision will affect White's future with the England team.
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