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We do not know what the personal reasons were that persuaded Ben White to leave early from the last World Cup.

A deserter! In his nation’s hour of need! Treason! There are few crimes more traitorous than turning your back on your country in Toxic Britain, where forgiveness is hard earned.

Thomas Tuchel, a foreigner, remained blissfully unaware of the vitriol about to head White’s way at Wembley on Friday night, as the Arsenal defender ended his four-year international exile. Why would anyone boo one of their own?

And yet, of course, our great nation excelled itself once more as not even a minority booed White upon his entrance from the bench in the second half of an otherwise anodyne draw with Uruguay.

More dishearteningly, even White putting England in front, his first-ever international goal – normally one for fireside chats with the grandkids down the line – garnered the same cacophony of disapproval.

It had to be Ben White

England take the lead v Uruguay @England | @ben6white pic.twitter.com/vZENV2tiMy

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 27, 2026

Football, like the rest of the world, has become more understanding of mental health issues that even affect multi-millionaire sportspeople. Events at Wembley showed just how far we still have to go.

The fact we do not know White’s reasons should have indicated that we have to give him the benefit of the doubt over why he left Qatar early in 2022 and subsequently withdrew his availability for international duty. Unfortunately, however, football doesn’t work like that.

It is well-documented that White is not a football obsessive like all those watching him, desperate for anything like the opportunity he has. Envy that pays a huge part in what happened on Friday night.

White’s decision four years ago did not cost England a second World Cup crown. All of which would likely have come into his thinking. Had he been a starter, there may have at least been some resistance from the England camp.

What White is, is a conscientious objector. He wanted to leave, and he didn’t want to say why. Had we known that he wanted to leave because he thought Gareth Southgate was obstructive, or he objected to the British empire, we would then be each entitled to our own views. Those more nationalistic given some credence to boo.

The lack of clarity, for the sake of protecting the player, should mean leeway is given.

Wembley has history. Harry Maguire could not wait to cup his ears after scoring after he had previously received such treatment. Even England’s all-time top goalscorer Wayne Rooney has taken some flak from the stands.

The encouraging signs elsewhere in football over mental health, its acceptable and understanding, perhaps encouraged Tuchel to believe that such reactions were a thing of the past. Football, more often than not, still retains that immovable tendency to disappoint.

“I also understood it happened to other players before here, and so he needs to take it on the chin,” Tuchel said. “We will always protect him, and hopefully we can put it behind him. Because he’s ready to write some new chapters, and we are ready to give him the chance. Hopefully, everyone can move on and accept it.”

But why do we have to accept it? Why should we allow thousands to target someone for simply doing what they wanted to do, to absolutely no detriment to his country’s chances of success?

“Obviously I’ve known him for a very long time,” Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa, who worked with White at Leeds, said. “I was just very happy to see him and I’m very happy to see how he has developed in his career.

“I saw him as he was sitting there and it was an opportunity to see him and say hello.”

Class is permanent. It is just a shame it isn’t more widespread.

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England 1-1 Uruguay (White 81′ | Valverde 90+4′ pen)

Stationed at home as colleague Pete Hall reported on this match from Wembley, the temptation to switch to Gogglebox at 9pm was real with England and Uruguay goalless at half-time.

Perhaps even Gogglebox player ratings instead? Jenny and Lee: 10/10. The Blackpool siblings a solid 9/10. The Siddiquis a 9/10 as well…

But no, no, a job to do, and after the first paper aeroplane was spotted at Wembley in the 11th minute – the go-to for bored but paying England supporters – this experimental Three Lions were then denied victory by a late Uruguay penalty despite Cole Palmer sparking the hosts into life.

So from paper planes to who makes the plane, and some cameo from the returning Ben White, here’s how England’s World Cup maybe pile fared before Thomas Tuchel welcomes back his regulars for Tuesday’s friendly against Japan…

James Trafford

Starting ahead of Jordan Pickford to make his England debut, Trafford’s passing was on point, he commanded his box well, and could do little to keep out Federico Valverde’s penalty – Uruguay’s first shot on target. 6/10

Tino Livramento

Like the rest of England’s defence (apart from White late on), Livramento barely put a foot wrong. Had a quieter night than his starting full-back counter-part, Djed Spence. 6/10

Fikayo Tomori

It says something that some 65 minutes in and I had no notes on Tomori beyond one misplaced pass in the first half. Anything below a six would be harsh, although his partner below did shine a little brighter. 6/10

Harry Maguire

Comfortable on the ball and happy going forward, Maguire was a focal point for set-pieces – suggesting England may follow Arsenal’s lead at the World Cup – and solidified his prospects of making the summer squad. 7/10

Djed Spence

Another player who boosted his World Cup prospects, Spence linked up brightly with Marcus Rashford when England attacked down the left and defended well when called upon as well. 7/10

"That's a David Ginola turn"

Djed Spence with some slick feet for England @England | @DjedSpence pic.twitter.com/UIi2vZptwZ

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 27, 2026

Jordan Henderson

Wore the armband with purpose and barked instructions from the get-go, but was then subbed off at half-time as the experiment continued for Tuchel. Very, very little to say beyond Henderson’s leadership skills showing why he is in this squad and will probably head to the US. 5/10

James Garner

Did not look out of place on his England debut. Little to do but did nothing wrong before being replaced with 20 minutes to go. Not the Everton midfielder’s fault, just a role that required the bare minimum on a night where Uruguay did not have a single shot on target while he was on the pitch. 6/10

Noni Madueke

Unlucky to limp off in the first half after showing early endeavour. A potential blow for Arsenal, too, although he was at least able to walk down the tunnel. 6/10

Phil Foden

Neither here nor there in the No 10 role, drifting out of the game all too often. Lucky to escape serious injury early in the second half – with the tackle from Ronald Araujo infuriating Tuchel – before coming off. Showed brief glimpses but if this was an audition to trouble leading candidates Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers in this position, then Foden fell short before his night ended abruptly and in unfortunate circumstances. 4/10

Marcus Rashford

The easy highlight of the first half was Rashford’s dribble down the left wing before his cross whizzed past Dominic Solanke. Showed the most purpose of any forward but did not see enough of the ball in the second half. 7/10

END END

Marcus Rashford has got some wheels! @England | @MarcusRashford pic.twitter.com/1vblEhz42b

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 27, 2026

Dominic Solanke

Had a few first-half attempts and was unsurprisingly selfish given the importance of impressing Tuchel, but the shots came to nothing before he was replaced in the second half. 6/10

Subs

Jarrod Bowen

On for the injured Madueke in the first half. Less dynamic than Madueke. 6/10

Adam Wharton

On at half-time for Henderson, probed with a few hopeful passes. 6/10

Cole Palmer

On in the 56th minute for Foden and delivered a terrific ball for the striker below with 20 minutes to go. Wanted the ball often and impressed more than the Manchester City man he replaced, and it was from his corner where England scored. If you think this score is too generous, it’s warranted for the impact he made. 8/10

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Back after five years away from the England setup, somehow headed wide from three yards out following Palmer’s pinpoint cross. 5/10

Harvey Barnes

On for his second England appearance after snubbing Scotland, the 20 minutes was not enough to make an impact. 6/10

Kobbie Mainoo

Huge cheers when his name was called out, what will be more interesting is if Tuchel gives Mainoo more time against Japan or if the Manchester United midfielder is behind Garner and Henderson – as well as Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson – in the pecking order.

Lewis Hall

Will hope for more gametime on Tuesday. Like the three others who came on in the 69th minute – Barnes, Mainoo, White – it was hard to make an imprint in a stop-start match. 6/10

Ben White

After unexpectedly returning to the England squad, there were pantomime jeers from the crowd when the Arsenal defender came on. All a bit odd, with more boos after he was in the right place at the right time to poke in England’s opener. Ended the night on a sour note, giving the injury-time penalty away. 6/10

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Michael Carrick is closing in on becoming the next permanent Manchester United manager as another of his rivals for the job appears set to pull out of the race.

The i Paper has been told by several sources that Luis Enrique is one of the top picks to take the Old Trafford hotseat at the end of the season, but it appears, just as was the case with other leading candidates Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti, that United will again be forced to look elsewhere.

Sources in Paris are adamant that Enrique will sign a new deal at Paris Saint-Germain beyond his current contract, which expires in 2027.

Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who has been in and out of Qatar in recent weeks to keep his family safe from the conflict in neighbouring Iran, is also keen to secure Enrique’s long-term future.

The signing of Spanish wonderkid Dro Fernandez, ahead of a host of top European clubs was, sources said, a sweetener to keep Enrique believing PSG are fully behind his long-term project in the French capital.

United’s interest in Enrique is said to come from chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, with the club’s Ineos owners understood to be more keen on appointing Carrick, at least on a short-term basis, should the former midfielder steer the club back into the Champions League.

The overriding feeling is if Carrick does that, then he deserves a longer shot at driving lasting change.

Club sources insist no contact has been made with any candidate as yet, as they feel that, with things going so well at the moment, they do not want to cause any undue disruption.

No decision will be made until the end of the season, when Enrique could well already be off the table.

It is true the former Barcelona manager harbours ambitions to manage in the Premier League one day, but the 55-year-old has plenty of time to fulfil those aspirations.

He speaks excellent English and would take little time to adapt to the league, given his experience against English teams.

One source added that Pep Guardiola’s future could come into Enrique’s thinking.

The pair played together at Barcelona and who succeeds the Manchester City boss when he does decide to leave is important to him.

Should Guardiola stay put one more year and see out his contract, like many insiders believe he will, then City will also be on the lookout for another elite-level coach, one with at least one Champions League title under his belt.

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It is a little early to be asking Phil Foden where it all went wrong. Nevertheless, a player framed as the future of the English game when he appeared fully-formed at 17 years old, is tethered to an altogether different trajectory now.

Foden turns 26 in May, which is hard to square with the sense of him that still lingers, a player for the future. Perhaps there is a lesson here for Max Dowman at Arsenal. The storied vista predicted is never given.

Were he to spend the rest of his career potless, Foden would still have banked a hall-of-fame payload, of course. A total of 17 major trophies in more than 300 first-team appearances since making his debut for Manchester City almost nine years ago is Ryan Giggs-like in scale and garnered in half the time.

From the moment he won the Under-17 World Cup with England in 2017 progression to the senior team felt routine. Such was the power of the Foden brand, some advocates pressed for his inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the Russia World Cup in 2018.

Southgate, perhaps wisely, resisted until 2020 against Iceland. To date he has amassed 47 caps, just six shy of the total achieved by Glenn Hoddle, another hyper-gifted phenom who ended his career an unresolved quandary for England.

As the season enters its decisive stage, instead of setting the agenda for club and country Foden is the recipient of sympathy votes and the subject of debates about his future at the Etihad.

He was an unused sub against Real Madrid in a game of super significance to City in the Champions League a week ago and was made to wait until the 90th minute before stretching his legs in a perfunctory Carabao Cup cameo against Arsenal at Wembley.

“I felt sad for him,” Wayne Rooney said.

“Not sad because he is coming on in a cup final. There was a game a few days ago when he didn’t even get on the pitch.

“If that was Max Dowman coming on at the end, you would think, good experience. But to see Phil Foden coming on in a cup final, it felt like a charity sub.”

Read more

• Kevin Garside: Mo Salah is a Muslim icon in toxic Britain
• Pete Hall: Ignore Gary Neville, Man City’s maverick is saving the Premier League

Though Foden clings to a place in this England squad, it is hard to see how he might tip the utilitarian thinking of Thomas Tuchel to start against either Uruguay of Japan, and therefore how he retains his interest when the squad is whittled down for the World Cup at the end of May.

Foden seemed to recover his station after injury and personal issues ruined last season. He even survived the arrival of Rayan Cherki in the summer to feature heavily in the autumn and was arguably the outstanding performer in City’s Manchester derby triumph at the Etihad in September, scoring the first.

Foden was seemingly made for Pep Guardiola, the English exemplar of the Catalan’s Tiki-taka movement. In this period of change, however, with Guardiola adapting to the Premier League’s paradigm shift to a more direct template, Foden has been swept into the margins by January signing Antoine Semenyo, the very embodiment of turbo power and thrust.

The idea of leaving to resurrect his career is anathema to a City lifer and Pep devotee like him, yet it is a discussion point in the City chat rooms as a contract extension beyond next year remains unsigned.

The idea of Foden’s absence from the World Cup, unthinkable at the height of the treble-winning season three summers ago, flows through the conversation like the Rubicon, a game-changing feature with irreversible consequences should he choose to cross it.

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Liverpool have already begun planning for life without Mohamed Salah by targeting £52m-rated Portugal forward Francisco Conceicao.

The club’s hierarchy were preparing for Salah’s exit in the past few months as links to Saudi Arabia remained prevalent, but the Egyptian’s shock announcement this week that he will leave on a free in the summer has accelerated plans.

Juventus winger Conceicao has had a stop-start season due to injury, but has found his form in recent months, helping him attract interest from across Europe.

The 23-year-old is also expected to play a big part in Portugal’s attempts to win a first ever World Cup this summer, despite the competition for places he faces in Roberto Martinez’s squad.

Conceicao is the kind of profile Liverpool are looking for – replacing Salah’s ability, from previous seasons, to remain on the front foot and run at defenders.

The i Paper has been told that at least one forward will come in this summer at Anfield, with Cody Gakpo one who could potentially leave after a difficult season.

It is understood that one marquee name, preferably with some Premier League experience, will be sought, then one younger, exciting prospect from Europe for a more reasonable fee. Conceicao falls into the latter category, given he could be available for around €60m (£52m).

Former Crystal Palace star Michael Olise is one of the stellar names Liverpool have been keeping their eye on. The France international’s exhilarating form this season has ramped his price tag up towards the £100m mark.

Liverpool have previous for willingness to spend nine-figure sums, but The i Paper has been told Olise is very happy at Bayern Munich and doubts remain whether he would leave Bavaria now, with Vincent Kompany creating such an impressive unit.

Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers has a myriad of attributes to make a real difference and is another wide option for Liverpool. He too would command a substantial fee.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola has long been coveted by senior figures at Anfield, and is seen as an achievable get, while RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande remains a top target.

Conceicao has three goal contributions in his last four Serie A matches after a campaign of modest numbers previously. Further improved performances for Juventus could persuade Liverpool to move sooner rather than later, as more goals and assists at the World Cup could increase the competition for his signature.

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When the parting comes, the stats, considerable though they are, will not define him. The mountain of goals, only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt have scored more than the 255 and counting, will not be the entirety of his legend. No, what Liverpool fans will remember most when he is gone is how Mo Salah made them feel, up there with Kenny Dalglish in the hearts of the Scouse diaspora.

The sense of Salah was perhaps most keenly felt by those attending a celebration of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool Olympia ahead of his final game at Anfield two years ago. Organised by fan group BOSS, the old Victorian auditorium served as a temple thronged by Liverpool worshippers 24 hours before the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Leading the communion was Jamie Webster, a kind of Scouse minstrel who sets his love of Liverpool to music with a string of terrace ballads that capture the essence of the fan experience. Of the many songs sung that day none met with the greater rapture than Webster’s ode to Salah, which to this observer felt like a moment of deep spiritual significance.

As he thrummed the opening chords, the dance floor erupted. “Mo Salah! Mo Salah! Mo Salah! Running down the wing. Mo Salah la-la-la la-ahh, the Egyptian king!”

It struck me then how football makes cultural barriers disappear. Here was an Islamic totem at the heart of a community gathering, embraced without a thought to his ethnicity or faith. He was just Mo, and he was there for everyone.

What a wonderful world it is with Salah on the dance floor, the ball glued to his feet, the goal at his mercy, the perfect antidote to Donald Trump bombing the shit out of Iran and the Revolutionary Guard brutalising their own people.

Sport in general, and football in particular as its most popular manifestation, is one of the highest forms of human expression since it requires opponents to come together in an attitude of acceptance and respect.

Self-evidently you cannot play it in a war zone, a fact rammed home during the First World War when, in an act of heartrending spontaneity, hostilities ceased on Christmas Day 1914, allowing British and German soldiers to exchange symbolic gifts and engage in a series of kick-abouts.

Sport’s superpower is its civilising quality, requiring a sense of togetherness and rules-based order to flourish. Yes it is partisan at heart but not at the expense of decency and fair play. Well, in most cases. And at elite level, the emotional connection with football clubs remains one of the great community endeavours. 

Salah engenders universal acclaim not because of his brilliance alone but for the spirit in which he plays the game, without malice or prejudice, always smiling, always trying. Perhaps most significantly of all, there is the feeling that he is representing the people of Liverpool, never himself. He is, in this regard, the anti-Cristiano, and as a result so easy to love.

Read more

• Pete Hall: Where Mo Salah will go after Liverpool exit – with two likely destinations
• Mark Douglas: Everton plot £100m summer war chest as Moyes targets three key transfers

Tar me with a romantic brush, but before we are English, Egyptian, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or any other cultural identifier, we are human beings. The simple joy of communing with one who in other settings might easily have manifested as “other”, reminds us of our commonality. 

In the epoch of Trump and his hateful factions we have never needed this message more. Once again this sentiment is best captured in song, another epic paean to Salah set this time to the tune of “Good Enough” by Dodgy.  

“If he’s good enough for you, he’s good enough for me. If he scores another few, then I’ll be Muslim too.

“If he’s good enough for you, he’s good enough for me. Sitting in the mosque, that’s where I wanna be!

“Mo Salah la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la-la-la.”

Farewell then, Mo. Less an Egyptian king, more a pharaoh of the people, for the people.

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Qualifying for Europe will help accelerate Everton’s planned summer rebuild, with another net spend of around £100m a realistic prospect at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in the close season.

David Moyes’ side have put themselves in real contention to return to European competition for the first time since 2018 with three wins from their last four games and sit only three points off rivals Liverpool, who occupy the final Champions League spot.

Crucially Everton seem to have addressed their patchy home form and Saturday’s 3-0 win over Chelsea felt like a landmark victory at their new stadium.

Moyes has made no secret of his desire to propel Everton back into Europe, and it is obvious why.

Sources suggest the impact of qualifying could be transformative ahead of a summer where the Friedkin Group is ready to once again sanction significant investment.

The club’s short-term ambition is to join the pack of challenger clubs like Aston Villa and Newcastle United who have gatecrashed the Champions League in recent years.

But without Europe, becoming the so-called “best of the rest” looks like a long shot.

With it they have an improved sales pitch to players and also new revenue streams for a club that wants to leverage their new stadium to make further funds available to Moyes.

Given Everton are likely to sell out every home game in Europe, even in the Conference League, each fixture could be worth up to £2m on the bottom line.

Financially, the Toffees have undoubtedly made progress in the last 12 months.

It is understood that the club’s upcoming accounts will show a small loss in the most recent financial year, but also that commercial revenues are now at record levels.

That will give them room under the Premier League’s financial rules to invest, with their quiet January transfer window a deliberate policy to enable a clear run at the summer.

Planning is underway for the next transfer window and a right-back, centre-back and forward are understood to be priorities.

Everton also remain hopeful of negotiating a deal for Jack Grealish, who is continuing his recovery from a stress fracture and continues to be a visible presence at club events.

The Manchester City winger is keen to return to Everton next season and that enthusiasm is reciprocated by Moyes.

But the deal will have to work financially for the Toffees as they look to strengthen in other key areas over the close season.

Having committed around £10m in terms of wages and fees to a season-long loan deal, Everton’s valuation of Grealish is around the £20m mark.

The Toffees will be helped in talks with City by the fact that there are few other viable suitors for Grealish given his age and contractual status.

Pep Guardiola has made it clear that the England winger has no future at the Etihad and even if there is a change of manager at City, that stance is unlikely to alter.

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Everton are also looking to bring in another centre-back and are keen on Arsenal’s Ben White, with his status at the Emirates uncertain.

The i Paper understands that Everton are one of the clubs interested in Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi, who will be a free agent this summer.

There will be intense competition for the 28-year-old though, with Serie A sides Roma and Juventus among his suitors.

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