White strikes in draw with Uruguay

England had to settle for a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Uruguay in their penultimate match on home soil before this summer’s World Cup in North America.

Arsenal’s Ben White opened the scoring in the 81st minute when he poked the ball in from a corner as he marked his first England appearance since March 2022 by getting his name on the scoresheet.

But Uruguay skipper Federico Valverde levelled in the 94th minute after White’s foul on Federico Vinas in the penalty area.

England started brightest under the lights at Wembley Stadium and looked dangerous early on.

In the opening ten minutes, James Garner’s cross was punched clear by Fernando Muslera, before Noni Madueke’s attempted shot was snuffed out by Uruguay’s defence and Dominic Solanke’s strike was deflected wide.

Uruguay’s first real foray forward resulted in Rodrigo Aguirre's effort finding the gloves of England goalkeeper James Trafford via a heavy deflection.

A lengthy delay soon followed as a serious-looking injury to Joaquin Piquerez forced him off on a stretcher, but England continued to look sharp as Solanke once again found an opportunity to shoot.

Agustin Canobbio was the gleeful recipient of Fikayo Tomori’s attempted headed clearance, as Uruguay searched for a goal on the break, but the 27 year old Fluminense man’s drive sailed into the crowd.

Marcus Rashford looked creative throughout the opening 45 minutes, and it was his mazy run just before the break that caused the visitors significant problems, but the Barcelona forward’s eventual cross flashed through Uruguay’s penalty area without being met by a red shirt.

The second half began in a similar vein to the first half, as England continued to press for an opener, however Phil Foden’s shot didn’t trouble Muslera after a jinking run.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin looked promising upon his introduction with some cute touches and a deflected effort, while Giorgian De Arrascaeta’s free kick never looked like troubling Trafford.

Calvert-Lewin had a great chance to break the deadlock in the 71st minute but he was unable to guide Cole Palmer’s wicked cross towards goal with his header at the back post.

Uruguay’s resolve was finally broken with nine minutes of normal time remaining when substitute Ben White stabbed the ball home on the line after fellow replacement Harvey Barnes flicked on Palmer’s corner.

But the South Americans ensured the spoils were shared after captain Valverde converted an injury-time penalty after White was adjudged to have fouled Vinas after a VAR check.

England: 22 James Trafford (Manchester City), 2 Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), 14 Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), 6 Harry Maguire (Manchester United), 16 Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), 21 James Garner (Everton), 8 Jordan Henderson © (Brentford), 17 Noni Madueke (Arsenal), 7 Phil Foden (Manchester City), 11 Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), 9 Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur)

Substitutes: 20 Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) for Madueke 38’, 4 Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace) for Henderson 45’, 10 Cole Palmer (Chelsea) for Foden 56’, 18 Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United) for Solanke 57’, 19 Harvey Barnes (Newcastle United) for Rashford 69’, 15 Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United) for Garner 69’, 3 Lewis Hall (Newcastle United) for Spence 69’, 12 Ben White (Arsenal) for Tomori 69’

Substitutes not used: 13 Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle United), 23 Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion), 1 Jordan Pickford (Everton), 5 John Stones (Manchester City)

Goals: Ben White 81’

Head coach: Thomas Tuchel

Uruguay: 23 Fernando Muslera, 4 Ronald Araujo, 5 Manuel Ugarte, 10 Giorgian De Arrascaeta, 13 Guillermo Varela, 14 Agustin Canobbio, 15 Federico Valverde ©, 16 Mathias Olivera, 20 Maximiliano Araujo, 22 Joaquin Piquerez, 26 Rodrigo Aguirre

Substitutes: 2 Jose Maria Gimenez for Piquerez 16’, 19 Federico Vinas for Rodrigo Aguirre 64’, 11 Facundo Pellistri for M. Araujo 64’, 18 Brian Rodriguez for Ugarte 87’, 9 Darwin Nunez for De Arrascaeta 88’, 6 Juan Manuel Sanabria for Olivera 88’

Substitutes not used: 1 Sergio Rochet, 12 Santiago Mele, 3 Sebastian Caceres, 7 Nicolas de la Cruz, 8 Emiliano Martinez, 17 Matias Vina, 21 Facundo Torres, 24, Jose Luis Rodriguez, 25 Nicolas Fonseca

Goals: Federico Valverde 90+4’

Yellow cards: Manuel Ugarte 71’

Head coach: Marcelo Bielsa