Английн шигшээ багийн хагас хамгаалагч Жордан Хендерсон ДАШТ-ий шөвгийн 16-д Мексикийг 3:2 харьцаагаар хожсон тоглолтын дараа баяр хүргэх үеэрээ зүүн гараа хугалж, тэмцээнийг цааш үргэлжлүүлэх боломжгүй болсон байна.
Өдгөө 36 настай тоглогч Канзас-Сити хотноо амжилттай хагалгаанд орж, эмчилгээгээ дуусгасны дараа шигшээ багийнхаа бэлтгэлийн баазад эргэн ирлээ. Тэрээр 2026 оны ДАШТ-д Панамын эсрэг тоглолтод сэлгээнээс ердөө зургаан минут тоглосон ч багийн дотоод уур амьсгал, манлайлал болон соёлыг төлөвшүүлэхэд чухал үүрэг гүйцэтгэж буйг багийн анд нөхөд нь онцолжээ.
Томас Тухель түүнийг зөвхөн сэлгээний тоглогч бус, талбай дээрх туршлага болон багийн нэгдмэл байдлыг хангах гол хүн хэмээн үзэж байгаа аж. Морган Рожерсын хэлснээр, Хендерсон бэртэлтэй ч багийнхаа төлөө өөрийн хувийн эрх ашгийг хойш тавьж, залуу тоглогчдод зөвлөгөө өгөн, багийн сэтгэл зүйг өндөрт байлгахад хувь нэмрээ оруулсаар байна.
Норвегийн эсрэг болох шөвгийн наймын тоглолтын өмнө Хендерсон багийнхаа хамт байгаа нь залуу тоглогчдод том дэмжлэг болж байгааг багийнхан нь онцолсон. Тэрээр тэмцээний үлдсэн хугацаанд багийнхаа сэтгэл зүйг удирдан чиглүүлэх үүрэг гүйцэтгэхээр үлджээ.
Дэлгэрэнгүй эх сурвалжийг харах
Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
It will be a quiz question in years to come.
Which England footballer was booked and left on a stretcher despite not playing a single minute in a dramatic World Cup triumph?
Privately, Jordan Henderson will be kicking himself about the freak injury he suffered following England’s thrilling 3-2 win over Mexico in the last 16 of this summer’s World Cup.
After joining his team-mates for a celebratory post-match rendition of the Oasis hit Wonderwall in front of their supporters, the Brentford midfielder landed awkwardly as he climbed back over the advertising hoardings at the Azteca Stadium and broke his left arm.
The sight of Henderson in agony as he received medical attention dented the jubilant mood among England’s players and staff. He will play no further part in the tournament and at the age of 36, it’s fair to assume that he won’t ever grace the World Cup stage again.
However, there was little sense of surprise on Wednesday when it was confirmed that he had returned to England’s training base in Kansas City and will stay with Thomas Tuchel’s squad as they continue their pursuit of glory. Earlier in the day he had undergone successful surgery at Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute.
Typically, in his social media post after the operation there was no wallowing in self-pity, no reference to his own crushing personal disappointment. Instead there was praise for the medics who had helped him and a rallying call ahead of the quarter-final against Norway: “Let’s get ready for the big one Saturday.”
The history books will show that Henderson played a grand total of six minutes in the 2026 World Cup, coming off the bench to replace Elliot Anderson in the closing stages of the 2-0 win over Panama in the group stage.
Harry Kane hands the captain’s armband to Jordan Henderson during the win over Panama (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
But his contribution at the seventh major international tournament of his career goes far beyond that brief cameo and explains why Tuchel will be relieved to have him back around as the stakes keep rising. He’s one of the leaders and viewed by the England manager as crucial in terms of the group dynamic, driving standards and fostering the right culture.
When Tuchel announced his 26-man squad in late May, there was criticism that Henderson had been selected rather than looking to the future withCrystal Palace’s Adam Wharton. Henderson was dismissed in some quarters as simply a glorified cheerleader.
That assessment is unfair because it ignores the fact that Tuchel primarily picked him based on his club form and because he felt his wealth of experience would be an asset on the field in terms of helping England to see out games. He also knew that Henderson would be fully understanding of his place in the pecking order rather than growing frustrated over a lack of game time.
It’s easy to be dismissive from afar about what else the former Liverpool captain brings to the table, but some of the comments from inside the England camp have been enlightening.
Speaking on England’s in-house Lions’ Den show ahead of their opening World Cup game against Croatia, Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers were both effusive with their praise.
“He’s so funny. He gets everyone laughing,” Bellingham said. “If there’s ever an issue, where you’re 22, 23, and you’re not sure about addressing it, he’ll do it for you. If there’s a problem between two people, he’ll bring them together.
“He’s got no ego when it comes to supporting the team. He’s a Champions League-winning captain, a Premier League-winning captain. Every day in training, he’s relentless in wanting to be better, in pushing everyone else to be better. He drives the intensity up.”
Rogers described Henderson as “the best guy I’ve met in football”. The Aston Villa midfielder added: “If you did a blind ranking of everyone they’d want at the England camp, he’d be in everyone’s top five.”
Jordan Henderson leads the way as England arrive at the Azteca on Sunday (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Henderson has a close friendship with Bellingham and is fiercely protective of him. It’s been telling how the Real Madrid star, who lit up the game against Mexico with two first-half goals, has really bought into the team ethic this time round.
It was also on the Lions’ Den sofa that Bellingham reflected on what was missing when England rode their luck at Euro 2024 prior to defeat in the final by Spain. “It didn’t feel like there was any kind of hierarchy,” he said. “I think at the Euros we got some things a little bit wrong off the pitch. I don’t feel like the group connected as well as it could have.”
Speaking at a press conference at England’s base in Kansas City on Wednesday, Rogers explained that he expected Henderson to be in Miami for the Norway game, and that he still had a part to play.
“I think you’ll see him on Saturday in one way shape or form,” said Rogers. “He always puts his ego to one side, or what he’s feeling, for the team.
“He always puts us first and tries to help every player in the best way possible. Whether it be conversations, whether it be actually playing — people forget the player he is, and what he’s done in this game, people don’t see and put to the back of their memory — and what he’s like in training, with his standards and his drive. That rubs off on everyone else. And it makes us a better team.
“To have him back as quickly in camp, and back to normal him, will be the best for the group.”
Henderson was among the senior players cast aside by Gareth Southgate for that tournament and was then subsequently overlooked by interim coach Lee Carsley. His international career looked over after an unhappy stint in Saudi Arabia with Al Ettifaq.
However, when Tuchel took over at the start of 2025, he was struck by how often Henderson’s name, the influence he had on those around him and the respect he commanded kept cropping up in conversations he had with players and staff.
Jordan Henderson rushes onto the pitch to celebrate England’s win in Mexico City (Carl Da Souza/Getty Images)
Naming Henderson in his first squad in March 2025, he described the then Ajax midfielder as “a serial winner”, “the glue in every team he plays for”, and someone who “embodies everything we try to build”. The more the former Chelsea boss got to know him, his admiration grew.
With Declan Rice and Anderson having nailed down the two midfield spots behind Bellingham, Henderson was always highly unlikely to start a game at this World Cup. With Kobbie Mainoo and Eberechi Eze in reserve, not having him as an option off the bench shouldn’t have an adverse impact on England’s dreams of glory in North America.
With his left arm in a cast following surgery, Henderson still has a role to play. He never contemplated going home early. He will do what he always does as long as England are involved — offering words of advice to those who look up to him. He will try to lighten the mood, lift pressure off shoulders and focus minds when the time is right.
“He’s kind of the heartbeat of the group,” Rogers said on Wednesday. “To see him this morning smiling and still as happy as he ever is, no matter what’s happened in the last 48 hours, is so nice for us to just see him.”
This isn’t how he wanted his final World Cup to play out, but for Tuchel and England he remains a big asset.
