Ben White was overcome with emotion when he found out he’d been named by Gareth Southgate in his 33-man preliminary squad ahead of this summer’s Euro 2020 competition.
Albion technical director Dan Ashworth had the happy job of breaking the news to the 23-year-old.
“I was told the news while I was out for dinner,” White said. “I didn’t really believe it! Dan [Ashworth] told me about it and when I was going, it was unbelievable.
“I then put the phone down and rang my mum straight away, I was crying, mum was crying, my dad and my sisters were there. I just sat and cried for an hour and could not really believe it. I don’t think it has sunk in yet.”
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The defender admitted it’s something he has dreamt of, but thought it was too late in the day to be included in the squad.
“An international call-up is always something you want, but obviously during the season I have been focussing on playing and putting in the performances for Brighton.
“When we finished on Sunday against Arsenal I thought that was it, I can go on my summer holidays now. To get a call-up for England is unbelievable.
“After the game against Arsenal I assumed it was a bit too late, because I had heard that you get called way before the squad is announced. When that call did come I was over the moon and shocked really.”