Gareth Southgate resisted clamour for Jack Grealish (right) to start games at Euro 2020
Gareth Southgate braces for Senegal on Dec. 4 although he has multiple talents who can keep England afloat. POOL via AFP / Laurence Griffiths

KEY POINTS

  • Ben White leaves England's World Cup Camp for personal reasons
  • England us set to face Senegal for the first time on December 4
  • England needs to figure out who to field against Senegal

Ben White is one of the reliable defenders that Arsenal, serving as a right-back for the team.

Given that he has been a model of consistency, his talent was added to the Three Lions in Qatar to back up England's World Cup bid.

However, White's stint was never expected to be a prominent one.

He was not featured in the two group games against Iran and the USA.

It was also added that the 25-year-old had fallen ill and this was the reason why he missed the session.

On Tuesday, November 29, the English defender was nowhere to be found with the side of Gareth Southgate cruising past the Welsh.

It was later confirmed that White has left the England camp due to personal reasons. He is not expected to rejoin his squad after being reportedly permitted to leave.

"Ben White has left England's training base in Al Wakrah and returned home for personal reasons. The Arsenal defender is not expected to return to the squad for the remainder of the tournament," an official statement from FA read.

"We ask that the player's privacy is respected at this moment in time."

White was supposed to be in his second major tournament with England as he was part of the team that reached the European Championship final.

For England, they will not be able to replace White since this can no longer be done at this stage of the World Cup.

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Regardless, England is in the last 16 and the immediate woe of Southgate is that they have to prepare for the "good ones."

Southgate is not short on talent and the only problem seen for him is who to tap.

Regardless, this is a good problem to have with the likes of Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka and Jack Grealish.

They will next face Senegal at the Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar on Sunday, December 4 after qualifying for the knockout rounds as Group B winners.

Senegal advanced from the group stages after their 2-1 win over Ecuador, finishing second to the Netherlands in Group A.

They are ranked 18th in the world, the highest for any African nation.

England and Senegal will meet for the first time.

Ben White
Ben White has left team England in the World Cup due to alleged personal reasons. Getty Images / Richard Heathcote
Senegal