England boss Thomas Tuchel defends Ben White after Wembley boos insisting defender is 'ready to write some new chapters'

England boss Thomas Tuchel defended Ben White after he was booed by sections of the Wembley crowd in the 1-1 draw with Uruguay. 

White - on his first England appearance since walking out of the Qatar World Cup in 2022 - was booed when he was subbed on and then again when his name was announced after he scored his first international goal on 81 minutes.

The Arsenal defender later gave away a stoppage-time penalty for Uruguay's equaliser.

"I heard that he was booed," Tuchel said in his post-match press conference. "I didn't hear it actually on the field because I was involved in the changes and instructions, so I didn't hear it so I think then it cannot be the majority.

"There were some boos and some mixed reception for him, which I am disappointed about because of course we protect our players and he was excellent in camp and he deserved to come on.

"He deserved also to start and got us almost the winner, but I also understood that it happened to other players before here.

"He needs to take it on the chin. We will always protect him and hopefully we can put it behind [us] because he is ready to write some new chapters and we are ready to give him the chance, so hopefully everyone can move on and accept it."

White's call-up to this squad as a replacement for Jarell Quansah was controversial.

Tuchel admitted the defender would have to "clear the air" with team-mates he left behind when he exited the 2022 World Cup early due to personal reasons. He rejected a subsequent call-up from Gareth Southgate, following a disagreement with then assistant boss Steve Holland.

That self-imposed international exile ended when Tuchel took charge and this was White's first involvement with the national team since then.

But the boos were a damning message to Tuchel and White from the England fans: many haven't forgiven the player for turning down opportunities to represent the country - and many, seemingly, do not think he should be back in the mix for a place at the 2026 World Cup.

Jordan Henderson, who was booed by England fans following his move to Saudi Arabia, insists White should not take the negative reaction from supporters 'too personally.'

"I have been through it myself, but that is part and parcel of being an England player," said Henderson.

"Some of the fans probably don't even know why they are booing, they listen to what is being said in the media, and a lot of the time what the media says isn't true.

"Not many people know the ins and outs of what happened in Qatar and it is for us to deal with internally.

"Ben has been good since he came back in and we will support him as team-mates.

"A few of us have been there, it is difficult when it is you, but you have to try not to take it too personally, the media can spin things in certain ways, which isn't always the truth and then fans can pick up on that and think it is the truth.