Valverde doesn’t do friendlies

At times it felt less like a friendly and more like a full-blown battle. There were casualties, even “fallen soldiers.” All edge, all impact. And just when Thomas Tuchel’s England thought they would come through their first game of the international break unscathed, Federico Valverde, 'El Pajarito’ — the ‘little bird,’ as he’s known — made it 1-1. Or rather, the “Falcon.” Because the Real Madrid midfielder just keeps delivering.

After a first half marked by injuries to Joaquín Piquerez and Noni Madueke, as well as the influence of Marcus Rashford, the introductions of Cole Palmer and, above all, Ben White changed everything. For better and for worse.

The more than 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium lost count of the fouls committed by Marcelo Bielsa’s players, with Ronald Araújo’s challenge on Phil Foden worthy of a straight red. They were also denied the chance to see Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice or Elliot Anderson. And perhaps that was for the best, with a clash against Japan still to come on Tuesday.

Tuchel’s decision to start the Arsenal fullback over Trent Alexander-Arnold seemed justified when Ben White, booed as he came on, made it 1-0. But it backfired in stoppage time, when he conceded the penalty that Valverde converted. The Uruguay captain, who had been involved in 10 goals in his last 10 games for Real Madrid, doesn’t lose any edge when representing his country. The same Uruguay side will face Spain in the World Cup group stage. Ankles beware for Lamine Yamal, Rodri and company.

Rashford weaves through the chaos

Between Uruguay’s intensity, perhaps excessive for a friendly, and a run of bad luck, the first half was chaotic. José María Giménez had to come on earlier than expected to partner Araújo in central defense, while Jarrod Bowen was introduced after Madueke’s injury. The situation looked worse for Piquerez, who was stretchered off after several minutes of treatment.

There was little sign of Valverde in the opening 45 minutes, aside from a long-range effort that was blocked by a crowd of English legs. By contrast, Rashford was everywhere, the most active and dangerous of Tuchel’s players.

The Barcelona winger was not among the 12 players left out for the first friendly of the break and made the most of his chance. Sharp, direct and constantly taking on defenders, he drove forward repeatedly down the left flank, causing problems for Bielsa’s side. But like his teammates, he lacked the finishing touch.

From boos to applause

Foden came close to joining the injury list. Both he and Araújo could count themselves fortunate to stay on the field after the Uruguay center back’s heavy challenge wiped out the England No. 7. Foden for escaping without serious injury, and the Barcelona defender for avoiding a clear red card. Tuchel, understandably, was furious on the touchline, complaining to the Uruguay bench about the physical approach of Bielsa’s players.

Although Foden was able to continue, Tuchel eventually took him off as part of a wave of substitutions. The same changes that allowed England to take the lead in the battle of goals, if not in fouls. Alongside Palmer, who left his mark on the game and nearly provided a brilliant assist, Ben White came on and, in less than 10 minutes, turned boos into applause.

Called up after Jarell Quansah’s injury and preferred to Trent Alexander-Arnold, White was initially jeered by the home crowd, who had not forgotten his sudden departure from the England camp during the 2022 World Cup. But in the 81st minute, Wembley had no choice but to celebrate as he made it 1-0. Palmer delivered the corner, Fernando Muslera saved the first effort, and White finished at the far post.

What the home crowd would not forgive, however, was him costing them the win. In the 93rd minute, his studs-up challenge inside the box was reviewed by VAR and given as a penalty. Valverde stepped up and converted. James Trafford got a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out, making it 1-1. Harry Maguire denied Valverde a dramatic winner in the final play. England, who had been far superior, ended up hanging on. After Valverde silenced Wembley, the traveling Uruguay fans celebrated the draw, chanting: “Uruguay, Uruguay, Uruguay.”

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England

• James Trafford
• Diop Spence (68')
• Fikayo Tomori (68')
• Harry Maguire
• Valentino Livramento
• James Garner (68')
• Nonso Madueke (37')
• Rashford (68')
• Foden (55')
• Henderson (45')
• D. Solanke (56')
• Substitutes
• Jarrod Bowen (37')
• Barnes (68')
• 13 Aaron Ramsdale
• Calvert-Lewin (56')
• Cole Palmer (55')
• 25 Adam Wharton (45')
• Jason Steele
• John Stones
• Jordan Pickford
• Kobbie Mainoo (68')
• 21 Ben White (68')
• Lewis Hall (68')

Uruguay

• Muslera
• Mathías Olivera (86')
• Ronald Araújo
• Guillermo Varela
• Joaquiín Piquerez Moreira (15')
• Valverde
• 14 Agustín Canobbio (86')
• Maximiliano Araujo (63')
• Manuel Ugarte (86')
• Aguirre (63')
• De Arrascaeta (86')
• Substitutes
• Santiago Mele
• Rochet
• Darwin Núñez (86')
• Nicolás De la Cruz
• Giménez (15')
• Pellistri (63')
• Federico Viñas (63')
• José Rodríguez
• Matias Viña
• Facundo Torres
• Emiliano Martínez (86')
• Sebastián Cáceres
• Juan Manuel Sanabria (86')
• Brian Rodríguez (86')
• Nicolás Fonseca

Substitutions

José María Giménez (15', Joaquín Piquerez), Jarrod Bowen (37', Noni Madueke), Adam Wharton (45', Jordan Henderson), Cole Palmer (55', Phil Foden), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (56', Dominic Solanke), Federico Viñas (63', Rodrigo Aguirre), Facundo Pellistri (63', Maxi Araújo), Ben White (68', Fikayo Tomori), Lewis Hall (68', Djed Spence), Kobbie Mainoo (68', James Garner), Harvey Barnes (68', Marcus Rashford), Juan Manuel Sanabria (86', Mathías Olivera), Emiliano Martínez (86', Manuel Ugarte), Darwin Núñez (86', Giorgian de Arrascaeta), Brian Rodríguez (86', Agustín Canobbio)

Goals

1-0, 80': Ben White, 1-1, 93': Valverde

Cards

Referee: Sven Jablonski
VAR Referee: Sören Storks, Katrin Rafalski
Giménez (69',Yellow), Manuel Ugarte (80',Yellow), Ben White (92',Yellow)