Arsenal defender Ben White was picked for the World Cup in Qatar. However, due to personal reasons, he left the camp in the middle of the tournament. He hasn’t played for the Three Lions since March 2022. At that time, White was criticized for rejecting a call-up to the England squad.
Three Lions star Ben Foster also did the same. Recently he shared a different perspective on this event. Former England star who also snubbed call-up defends Ben White for ‘having a real rest’
Ben White has been criticized for rejecting a call-up to the England squad, but a former Three Lions star who did the same has offered a different perspective. Ex-England and Manchester United keeper Foster offered a more balanced perspective. Because once he also refused a call-up due to personal reasons.
The 40-year-old star said, “It’s hard to know exactly what Ben White is like as a character. There’s been loads of stories floating around before about the fact that he doesn’t particularly like football away from it.”
Then he added, “Obviously when he turns up to his day job at Arsenal he trains very well. See him on a Saturday afternoon, he’s been one of the best right-backs in the Premier League this season.”
He continued, “But when it comes to all the other stuff, I get the vibe that he doesn’t really enjoy it all, he doesn’t like the show of it all, especially going away with England.”
Foster added, “It’s a two-week period where he can have a real rest, a real shutdown, escape from it all, not have to worry about football and when you’re somebody that doesn’t particularly love all of that stuff, all the trappings that come with being a footballer, that is a real great chance.”
Foster declined an international call-up early in his career. He said, “My kids were just being born, and I knew that I wasn’t going to be playing when I was away with England. I knew I was going there basically just to make up the numbers.”