Thomas Tuchel hopes Ben White can win over fans following his performance during England’s match against Uruguay on Friday night, where he faced some boos.
The 28-year-old came on as a substitute in the second half, marking his first international game since leaving the 2022 World Cup early.
White nearly had an ideal return, scoring a goal with ten minutes left in a dull match at Wembley Stadium.
However, a challenge in the penalty area led to the referee awarding a penalty after checking the monitor. Fede Valverde scored, leveling the game and denying England a win.
“It was not a penalty,” Tuchel told ITV. “Our goal was also a tough block from (Adam) Wharton, but it was reviewed and given.
“I’m satisfied with the performance. We played well and were generally the better team.
“We had several good opportunities from set-pieces. We had to make many changes, bringing in new players, and I appreciate the challenge.
“I’ll review it later, but I liked how we played. We expected a tough opponent. Marcelo Bielsa informed me months ago he would bring his best team. Overall, everyone performed well.”
Tuchel addresses the boos for Ben White during his England return
Regarding White’s performance, Tuchel noted, “It seemed too good to be true when he scored what would have been the winning goal. In the end, he may have been too eager in his defensive play, but it wasn’t a penalty.”
Sections of the England crowd booed White after his goal, but Tuchel is optimistic that this could shift opinions about him.
“I hope so. This has happened to other players here, which is unfortunate as it doesn’t benefit anyone. The reaction was mixed.”
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