Darren Bent claims Gareth Southgate lied about Ben White’s situation with England.
White has not played for England since he made himself unavailable after that incident. He is currently recovering from knee surgery and will be out for three months. Reports suggest he had a disagreement with assistant manager Steve Holland. Southgate claimed that White was asked to step back from future selections.
Despite this, there are rumors that White might return to the national team. This speculation comes as Thomas Tuchel is set to take over as the new England manager. Bent believes that White’s willingness to return shows he was not the problem in the situation.
Bent stated that if White is open to playing for England again, it indicates he never had an issue with representing his country. He suggested that the real issue might have been with Southgate and Holland. Some fans may not understand this, but players need to feel comfortable in their work environment.
If White felt uncomfortable or targeted during his time with the team, he had every right to step away. Bent emphasized that White’s desire to return shows it was never about not wanting to play for England. He believes that representing one’s country is a great honor.
Bent criticized Southgate for not being truthful about the situation. He suggested that Southgate should have acknowledged the falling out instead of placing the blame on White. He believes Southgate has done well in uniting the team and fans but should be honest about the circumstances.
In summary, Bent feels that Southgate’s comments were unfair and misleading. He believes that honesty is essential in these situations and that players should not be unfairly blamed for conflicts. White’s case highlights the importance of communication and understanding within a team.
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