Euro 2020: England defender White stunned by ‘mind-blowing’ Euro call-up

Brighton & Hove Albion defender Ben White on Tuesday said it was “surreal” to have earned a late call-up to England’s 26-man squad for the European Championship.

The 23-year-old was named by manager Gareth Southgate as a replacement for injured Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who withdrew from the squad last week after a thigh injury during England’s 1-0 win over Austria.

White, who was part of Southgate’s 33-man provisional squad, made his full international debut in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Romania – the final warm-up game before the Euros – after featuring as a substitute in the previous game against Austria.

“I was speechless and I felt amazing,” White told a news conference. “It’s mind-blowing. I didn’t really expect any of this to happen. I thought I’d be somewhere hot like Portugal (for the summer).

“Even being in the 33-man squad was enough for me. To make it to the final squad was unbelievable. I don’t think I’ve let it settle in just yet.

“I’ve played in all the leagues and before each one I wondered whether I could step up to that league, but I’ve managed to do it. It’s another one of them.”

England start their campaign against Croatia in the Group D opener on June 13 before they face Scotland on June 18 and the Czech Republic on June 22, with all the games being played at Wembley.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.