England vs. Uruguay final score: International friendly result, stats as Valverde stoppage-time penalty pegs back Three Lions
· Yahoo Sports
England vs. Uruguay final score: International friendly result, stats as Valverde stoppage-time penalty pegs back Three Lions originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
JUMP TO:
Visit michezonews.co.za for more information.
Federico Valverde snatched a 1-1 draw with a stoppage-time penalty for Uruguay against England, capping an eventful return to international football for Ben White.
Arsenal defender White, who left England's squad at the 2022 World Cup at his own request, was booed onto the field by fans still holding that against him when he replaced Fikayo Tomori in the 69th minute.
Not long afterwards, White scrambled home at the far post for a first international goal on his return from that self-imposed exile. When the identity of the goalscorer was announced, sections of the Wembley crowd booed again.
That could also have been due to dissatisfaction with a lengthy VAR check, and referee Sven Jablonski had a night to forget after he showed two yellow cards to Manuel Ugarte but bizarrely neglected to produce a red.
The German official was involved in the sting in the tail when he reviewed White's injury-time challenge on Federico Vinas at the pitchside monitor. Valverde scored emphatically from 12 yards to ensure England's winless run against South American opposition, which goes back to a 2014 win over Peru, now stands at six matches.
England vs. Uruguay score
Venue: Wembley, London
Referee: Sven Jablonski (Germany)
Starting lineups:
England (4-2-3-1 right to left): 22. James Trafford (GK) – 2. Tino Livramento, 14. Fikayo Tomori, 6. Harry Maguire, 16. Djed Spence – 8. Jordan Henderson, 21. James Garner – 17. Noni Madueke, 7. Phil Foden, 11. Marcus Rashford – 9. Dominic Solanke
Uruguay (4-2-3-1 right to left): 23. Fernando Muslera (GK) – 13. Guillermo Varela, 4. Ronald Araujo, 16. Mathias Olivera, 22. Joaquin Piquerez – 15. Federico Valverde, 5. Manuel Ugarte – 14. Agustin Canobbio, 10. Giorgian De Arrascaeta, 20. Maxi Araujo – 26. Rodrigo Aguirre.
England vs Uruguay stats
EnglandStatUruguay9Shots84Shots on target163%Possession37%7Corners05Fouls121Yellow cards22Offsides1England vs. Uruguay analysis, talking points
Tuchel's debutants make their case
Goalkeeper James Trafford and midfielder James Garner made their full international debuts and neither looked out of place. Trafford was back at Wembley five days on from an accomplished performance in Manchester City's Carabao Cup win over Arsenal. Despite being behind Gianluigi Donnarumma in the pecking order with his club, Trafford is a goalkeeper of obviously elite quality. If City are able to go deep in the FA Cup two — they have a home quarterfinal against Liverpool next weekend — perhaps that can pinch the third-choice spot behind Jordan Pickford and Dean Henderson. He played unfussily here and guessed correctly on Valverde's penalty, which left him with no chanc
Garner was a surprise inclusion choice, but Tuchel made a point of praising the Everton player's "clean" technique, and it was notable to see him entrusted with some set-piece duties. That's a good string to have to your bow when it comes to selection for tournament squads, as demonstrated later on by Cole Palmer. Veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson made way at halftime, but Garner got 69 minutes before being replaced by Kobbie Mainoo, the Manchester United player making a first England appearance since the final of Euro 2024. He came on at the same time as White and received a contrastingly warm reception
How many times was Manuel Ugarte booked against England?
The second half produced a moment of infamy for referee Sven Jablonski, who showed Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte two yellow cards but did not send him off. His first booking came for a petulant, stamping challenge on Palmer, from which the Chelsea player delivered a free-kick from the right that Dominic Calvert-Lewin should have converted.
A scuffed Palmer set-piece did the trick for White's goal, although Uruguay felt Adam Wharton had committed a foul amid the melee. Ugarte led vociferous protests and was shown another yellow. Jablonski appeared to have forgotten the first caution. On the ITV broadcast in the UK, the commentators later relayed that the fourth official said Ugarte's second booking had been rescinded, a new protocol that is set to come in at the World Cup but is not understood to be in operation for the March internationals.
It felt like a spurious, shoddy attempt to cover for a colleague who'd had a moment to forget. A later argument advanced was that the first yellow card was shown to Jose Maria Gimenez for dissent and not to Ugarte for the challenge. Self-preservation on the hoof.
Painful night for Foden
Manchester City favourite Phil Foden headed to Euro 2024 as a four-in-a-row Premier League champion and the reigning FWA and PFA Footballer of the Year. He went scoreless through England's run to the final and has struggled for form and fitness since. A return to something close to his best form earlier this season for City has come to look like a false dawn, with the 25-year-old playmaker peripheral since the turn of the year.
Tuchel is a huge fan, however, and seems keen to have him involved in his band of creators in North America. With starts at club level few and far between, it felt imperative for Foden to make a statement here. He was neat and tidy, as he always is, and takes the ball under pressure in tight spaces with an ease uncommon among his compatriots. But he could not unlock a game that lacked tempo and he hobbled down the tunnel shortly after a dreadful challenge from Ronald Araujo left Foden in agony.
The challenge struck the same left ankle that hindered him during a forgettable 2024/25 season and Tuchel was understandably furious at the referee's inaction. Any lasting damage at the business end of this season is the last thing Foden needs.
England vs. Uruguay key moments, highlights
90+4 mins: Valverde levels from the penalty spot! The Real Madrid star drills low to Trafford's right after the England goalkeeper guessed correctly. Ben White was penalised for a foul on Federico Vinas after a VAR review to continue his eventful cameo.
81 mins: GOAL! Ben White marks his England return in style! Palmer 's corner scoots through to the back post via a flick form Harvey Barnes after Calvert-Lewin fails to make contact with a near-post diving header. White is on hand to tap home at the far post for a first international goal.
It had to be Ben White ⚽️
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 27, 2026
England take the lead v Uruguay 🏴🇺🇾@England | @ben6whitepic.twitter.com/vZENV2tiMy
72 mins: Chance for Calvert-Lewin! Oh, the Leeds striker really should score on his England return after being picked out by a free-kick from fellow substitute Cole Palmer.
50 mins: Ouch! That's an absolutely wretched challenge from Araujo, who goes flying into Foden's left ankle with his studs up. We have VAR in operation tonight, but it feels like a lenient call in a friendly, not to even brandish a card. Thomas Tuchel is furious with the officials.
"That's a leg-breaker! 😱
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 27, 2026
Thomas Tuchel was furious Ronald Araujo wasn't shown a red card for a tackle on Phil Foden 🟥@Englandpic.twitter.com/wCGSXeIzKp
40 mins: Rashford illuminates a fairly dour half with a stunning run from one penalty area to the other, bombing down the left-half side of the pitch. His resulting cross evades the on-rushing England players, but it's an eye-catching moment on this audition night.
END ➡️ END😱💨
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 27, 2026
Marcus Rashford has got some wheels! 🏴@England | @MarcusRashfordpic.twitter.com/1vblEhz42b
England vs. Uruguay match facts
- The most recent clash between England and Uruguay came in the group stages of the 2014 World Cup as Uruguay — inspired by a Luis Suarez brace — put England on the verge of elimination with a 2-1 victory in Sao Paulo.
- The only time England have beaten Uruguay since 1969 came when they defeated the South Americans in a friendly in March 2006.
- Overall, England and Uruguay have played each other on 11 occasions with England coming out on top in three of those games and Uruguay winning five matches.
England vs. Uruguay team news
England team news
- Thomas Tuchel has discussed the fact this camp will see a split squad and so a lot of key first-teamers won’t be involved for England here.
- Since selecting his squad, Tuchel has also called up Ben White and Harvey Barnes after the injury withdrawals of Jarell Quansah and Eberechi Eze.
- Tuchel has confirmed he will not risk Jude Bellingham tonight, while John Stones — who has only played five times for his club Man City since his last England appearance in November — is unlikely to feature because of a calf issue.
Uruguay team news
- Marcelo Bielsa is without Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur due to injury, as well as fellow midfielders Rodrigo Zalazar and Nahitan Nandez.
- Al Hilal striker Darwin Nunez is a key player, supported by wingers Maximiliano Araujo (Sporting CP) and former Man United man Facundo Pellistri.
- Federico Valverde scored another goal for Real Madrid in the derby against Atletico Madrid — a couple of weeks after his Champions League heroics against Man City.