Ben White is England’s reluctant World Cup hero-in-waiting.
While some members of Gareth Southgate’s squad have spent their waking hours nervously awaiting the call-up, Arsenal ’s centre-half wasn’t one of them. He doesn’t have any particular memories of past tournaments and didn’t allow himself to even think about the plane for Qatar until the competition was almost upon him.
So, while the likes of Leicester City’s James Maddison had to compose themselves by leaning against a wall upon learning the news from Three Lions’ chief Southgate, you get the impression the 25-year-old would have taken the same very much in his stride. The defender is much more at home on a body board near a waterfront during his down-time than he is gorging himself on more football.
He said: “I’ve seen a few games - in the summer I used to ride down to the beach in Bournemouth and watch England on a big screen but normally I’m not watching football. There aren’t too many memories, apart from the disappointments - I remember Eric Dier’s penalty against Colombia…I don’t know what it is.
“I didn’t grow up watching football. It wasn’t on in my house. If it was, I’d watch for a bit and then try to copy someone or practice a bit of skill. I was always so active. It’s the same now. I always get asked what I do after football - I don’t really do much but I’m always busy.
“So, sitting down and watching a 90-minute game after I’ve trained all day and have four or five meetings about football…the last thing I want to do is watch more football.
“It’s never been in my life - or my mum and dad’s. My old man Barry is so laid back it’s ridiculous. When I was called up for the squad, he said: ‘Well done.’
“It was like he knew it was going to happen and it wasn’t a surprise for him but my mum Carole is the opposite, so I’ve got the balance between them. But I don’t look too far ahead. I wake up in the morning, look after that day - try to make it the best ever and I don’t think too far ahead.
“I’m not someone who has anything planned in normal life. If I want to go somewhere for dinner on that day, that’s where I’ll go. I didn’t even think about the World Cup until it was close.
“If you’re so concerned about something it normally doesn’t happen if you’re too worried. Things will be what they will be and you deal about it when it comes.”
White says his attitude has helped him achieve his own personal goals. After being released by Southampton as a youngster, he worked his way through the leagues before hitting the big-time with Brighton and then Arsenal following a £50m move last year.
“It’s one of the big reasons why I am where I am,” he added, “staying level. I learnt it from getting released. It was obviously a rubbish day but I didn’t cry about it. I just moved onto the next thing.
“It’s like that after a game, if you didn’t play so well. After my first game for Arsenal against Brentford, I was hammered. One year later, they’re all praising me.
“I’ve always been like it. When I went to League Two, they’d be like: ‘Who’s this guy?’ Then I’d go and smash the season and get the player-of-the-season and then got to another club, like Leeds, where no-one has a clue who I am and I played every single minute.
“It’s something that has continued in my career. I believe in myself. I’ve worked hard to get here. I don’t think I’ve done it in an easy way. It’s just been consistent, believing in what I do.”
