Manager Thomas Tuchel couldn’t believe Ronald Araujo avoided a red card (Image: ITV)
In England’s Wembley draw with Uruguay, Thomas Tuchel and Harry Maguire criticized referee Sven Jablonski after causing several second-half flashpoints. The Three Lions faced the South American side in Tuchel’s penultimate match before he selects his 26-man squad for this summer’s World Cup. It was a largely monotonous game, but an ugly tackle from Ronald Araujo lifted the spirits in the second half, before Ben White and Federico Valverde scored late goals, and White converted a penalty in stoppage time.
Somehow Jablonski was not sent off for the tackle on Barcelona’s Araujo that broke his leg on Phil Foden, and then he was not sent off despite giving Manchester United’s Manuel Ugarte two yellow cards. A fourth official strangely claimed that the second yellow had been rescinded, but it has since been said that the first yellow for Ugarte was actually given to Ugarte’s teammate Jose María Jimenez. Then, late in the game, Jablonski awarded a penalty after White tackled Federico Vinas six yards inside the box.
Tuchel, who admitted he was disappointed at the end, told ITV: “Well, that wasn’t a penalty, so I’m sorry. But OK. In conclusion, I think our goal was also a check on a tough block from Adam Wharton and we gave it away. There’s nothing wrong with our performance at all. I liked the way we capitalized on it, the way we structured it.”
“We had a lot of tries. I think overall we were the better team. We had some big chances from set-pieces and the best chance came from (Dominic) Calvert-Lewin after 60 minutes. We had to make substitutions. We lost Ni Maduke and then we lost Phil Foden (both) to injury. We had a lot of new players and we replaced a lot of new players. I’m very grateful for the test and I’m very happy with the performance.”
Asked whether Uruguay should have sent off Araujo, Tuchel replied: “Of course. Of course, of course. We’re very lucky. Why isn’t this checked by VAR? And they check the last part, which the referee clearly said he saw, and there was nothing… And they checked and it was given. For me it’s not enough[for a penalty]but it’s OK.”
“We played well. I think we were good, I think everyone was good. We played as a team. I liked a lot of things today. It was too good for Ben to score the winning goal. He might be a bit too tough, maybe too greedy defensively, but I still don’t think it was a penalty. It would have been nice to get another win without conceding a goal, but my opinion about the game remains the same.”
Ronald Araujo not sent off despite dangerous tackle on Phil Foden (Image: ITV)
Harry Maguire labels Uruguay penalty a ‘ridiculous’ decision (Image: ITV)
A confused Maguire also couldn’t believe Araujo wasn’t punished. He told the broadcaster: “Of course. It’s rare to see a tackle like that that doesn’t get a red card. We’re still a few months away from the World Cup and the referee allows a tackle like that. It’s a shame there wasn’t a red card.”
“We have to control the game a little bit better at the end to get the win. It was a good workout and there were a lot of positives and things to work on. He gave a hell of a penalty. I thought it was a really, really soft penalty. Ben just goes to block the shot. It’s not a tackle, it’s not malicious. There will be contact in the box.”
The returning white player had a dramatic night in his first international appearance in four years after going into self-imposed exile. The Arsenal defender scored in the 81st minute, but conceded with Valverde scoring the equaliser. It all happened after he refused to play for his country due to a falling out with former assistant manager Steve Holland and was booed on the pitch.
Ben White’s return to England was an eventful night (Image: Getty)
Tuchel responded to the hecklers: “I hope so[that this turns the page for him]. I think it’s happened before with some of the players here and I don’t think it helps anyone, so it’s a shame. Some people cheered, others booed, I think it was a mixed reaction. I didn’t realize that, but now people have told me.”
“I couldn’t hear you because I was inside the tunnel, but I hope you’re okay.”
Meanwhile, White’s teammate Maguire added: “It was a bit crazy to score the first goal. I thought he was great when he came on. I can’t say anything about the defence, because if it was me in that position I would have tried to block the shot too. That’s what we have to do.”
“He’s been really good all week. He’s been really positive in camp and had a big smile on his face. He brought great energy to camp and it paid off with the goal. I thought it was great when he came out.”
