Thomas Tuchel has backed Ben White to receive support from the Wembley crowd during England's friendly against Uruguay, despite the defender's controversial return to the squad. White has not played for England since leaving the 2022 World Cup early for personal reasons, and his recall has divided opinion among fans.
Tuchel acknowledged that White needs to clear the air with teammates who were part of that World Cup campaign. 'Something must have happened, because if a player leaves from a tournament it's never good,' the head coach said. 'But he deserves a second chance. People have to trust me that he behaves very, very well.'
The German also addressed the competitive atmosphere in his oversized 35-man squad, with some players set to drop out after the Uruguay match. Cole Palmer, who has struggled with injury and form, is under pressure to secure a World Cup spot. 'The pressure is on him,' Tuchel said. 'He needs to understand he fights for his place.'
