Thomas Tuchel tells England fans to stop booing Ben White - insisting Arsenal star's exile and World Cup walk-out after row with Steve Holland is a 'closed book'

Thomas Tuchel has urged England fans to end their vendetta against Ben White.

Arsenal defender White was booed on his return to international football last March as England fans made it clear they hadn’t forgiven him for leaving the Qatar World Cup part way through the tournament.

Back in Tuchel’s squad for the first time since playing against Japan and Uruguay earlier this year, White could face the Wembley crowd against Croatia next Thursday.

The England manager said today: ‘We were not happy about it [the booing].

‘We understand the disappointment of the fans but it’s been expressed now and it should be a closed book.

‘Everybody can see the investment of Ben and the quality of Ben in terms of how he presented himself when he was with us.’

White scored England’s goal against Uruguay last March and then gave away the penalty from which the South Americans equalised in a 1-1 draw.

Thomas Tuchel has urged England fans to end their vendetta against Ben White (above)

The England boss called up the Arsenal defender again for the November international break

‘It was very eventful for him and not so easy,’ said Tuchel.

‘But when I spoke to him I could see the hunger. He deserves to be able to open a new chapter and he deserves positive feedback from the crowd’.

White went four years between caps after Gareth Southgate gave him the last cap of his tenure in March 2022. He left the Qatar World Cup after a difference of opinion with Southgate’s assistant Steve Holland and was never picked again.