England 1 Uruguay 1: Ben White plays hero and villain as Dominic Calvert-Lewin fails to take his chance
Handed a first England cap in five years, Dominic Calvert-Lewin was unable to take his chance against Uruguay as Ben White stole the show as both hero and pantomime villain in a 1-1 draw.
Neither of the two strikers auditioning to be Harry Kane's deputy at this summer's World Cup were able to find the net, but Dominic Solanke appeared to start and finish the night ahead of the Leeds United man.
How the Sheffield United academy product must have wished there was an England international when he was running hot as 2025 rolled into 2026. Instead, his chance came along on the back of a six-game barren streak.
And whilst Calvert-Lewin always offers something as a targetman when he is not at his deadliest, the bar is higher than that to make the plane to North America in June.
But it was White, a Leeds centre-back under now-Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa, who stole the attention in his first international appearance since asking not to be considered for selection after the Qatar World Cup. England's supporter have not forgotten and definitely not forgiven.
Even White's goal to put the home team in front was booed, so for him to concede a penalty in stoppage time which cost his team victory was the final insult.
With the possible exception of substitute Cole Palmer it was hard to argue anyone in a second-string England side made an inarguable case to be part of Thomas Tuchel's squad.
In fairness, White's high challenge on Federico Valverde and the Real Madrid man's spot kick at least brought some long overdue excitement to a game badly lacking it, with second-half captain Harry Maguire forced into a late block to keep the scores level as for the first time, Uruguay looked an attacking threat.
Most of the play was in the direction of Uruguay's goal, but England had only five shots on target to show for it - four more than the visitors.
Two lengthy periods of first-half treatment did not help the game, with Uruguay's Joaqin Piquerez stretchered off and Noni Madueke making way after jarring his leg when a shot was blocked. Phil Foden was on the wrong end of a hefty Ronald Araujo tackle.
The paper aeroplanes were out as Piquerez lay stricken for an inordinate amount of time, and at one point supporters were making their own entertainment by switching the lights on on their mobile phones.
It was that kind of night.
At least the many Leeds fans in the crowd were able to show their love for Bielsa.
For 56 minutes they did not have skin in the game with Calvert-Lewin made to wait from his chance from the bench. So was Palmer, with Tuchel opting to go without a No 10, employing Foden as one of the two attacking players in a V-shaped midfield. Everton's James Garner, one of two debutants alongside goalkeeper James Trafford, was the other.
The recalled Maguire headed a fourth-minute corner taken by Garner over, but it was hardly a sign of things to come.
Solanke, the striker chosen ahead of Calvert-Lewin was lively, winning the ball in the centre circle after eight minutes to a ripple of excitement as he carried it forward, but his shot hit a defender and went out for a corner.
Solanke produced a lovely turn from a Madueke pass 10 minutes later, but a deflection left an easy job for Fernando Muslera.
Full-back Djed Spence is making a better impression on Tuchel than he did on Daniel Farke at Leeds he slipped Garner in for a crossing opportunity, but Solanke was unable to get above the ball or keep his header down.
Perhaps England's best chance came when Valverde had a shot charged down and Marcus Rashford ran all the way to the byline, only to fail to pick anyone out with his cross.
Had Agustin Canobbio kept his head over the balloon, Uruguay might have had a shot on target, rather than two balloon over. Giorgian de Arrascaeta's free-kick midway through the second half followed a similar path.
If Calvert-Lewin's introduction was greeted enthusiastically by the Leeds fans in the crowd and although he linked up well, his finishing was not what was required with a World Cup place to win.
Spence used him as a decoy in the 59th minute, but when his shot deflected the way of the Sheffielder, he could not get a clean contact on his volley.
He found himself in space from a Palmier free-kick in the 70th minute, but steered his header wide.
In between time a backheel aimed for Palmer did not find him.
Playing deeper than he is used to with Chelsea, Palmer - England's goalscorer in the last European Championship final - was a lively presence and it was his corner substitute Harvey Barnes helped on for White to tap in from less than a yard out and 84 minutes on the clock.
The fans who had booed his name pre-match and again when he came on in central defence made their displeasure known. They are still not happy the defender walked out on England's last World Cup after an apparent disagreement with coach Steve Holland.
Just as it looked like England might keep a seventh straight clean sheet and record the best win, at least in terms of the FIFA ranking of their opponents of Tuchel's reign, White intervened.
England: Trafford; Livramento, Tomori (White 68), Maguire, Spence (Hall 68); Foden (Palmer 56), J Henderson (Wharton HT), Garner (Mainoo 68); Madueke (Bowen 38), Solanke (Calvert-Lewin 56), Rashford (Barnes 68).
Unused substitutes: Pickford, Stones, Ramsdale, Steele.
Uruguay: Muslera; Varela, R Araujo, Olivera (Sanabria 87), Piquerez (Gimenez 16); Valverde, Ugarte (B Rodriguez 87), de Arrascaeta (Nunez 87); Canobbio (Martinez 87), Aguirre (Vinas 64), M Araujo (Pellistri 64).
Unused substitutes: Rochet, Caceres, de la Cruz, Mele, Vina, Torres, J Rodriguez, Fonseca.
Referee: S Jablonski (Germany).