AS SOUTHGATE PROVES RIGHT AGAIN, JORDAN HENDERSON MAKES HIMSELF IRREPLACEABLE
AS SOUTHGATE PROVES RIGHT AGAIN, JORDAN HENDERSON MAKES HIMSELF IRREPLACEABLE
By Rashmi Goel
It is time for all of us to own up and admit that no one expected Jordan Henderson to make himself an irreplaceable member of England's World Cup team. He has always been an integral leader in Gareth Southgate's squad, but now he has burst into the starting XI, and England will benefit from it. In the match against Senegal, Henderson was everywhere. There is a lot of talent on this England team, but leadership is lacking in the midfield. This is where the Liverpool man comes into play. Through his work rate and constant harassment, he sets a good example, but he also ensures that every member of his team does his or her job properly. Henderson has been praised by even one of the Three Lions' most talented players, Phil Foden. In my opinion, he is a massive man. Whenever anyone is not doing something right on the pitch, he will tell you off as soon as he sees you doing so. It doesn't bother me that he's a leader and a captain, and he definitely has that in his arsenal as a leader and a captain.
The experience of playing on the field with him is a pleasure, he enhances your performance and that of those around you. " We regard him as one of our key players and it is undeniable that he is a leader among the team." He has undeniable leadership qualities, but sometimes they can overshadow his ability to play football. When Jude Bellingham found him, his late run into the box was perfectly timed. After the game, Bellingham commented, "There has been a lot of rubbish said about him, which is ridiculous - he is really underrated technically, which is really unfair," referring to his fellow midfielder. "He deserves a bit of praise; it's about time he gets some." It is also important to note that the manager has once again managed to shut out the noise and get the big calls right. This is one of the things that Southgate is so good at. In typical fashion, the replies to England's starting XI on Twitter were filled with tons of abuse from people who think they know better than the manager, and after Henderson's performance on Sunday, those critics who had targeted Henderson were left with eggs on their faces for their remarks. Southgate's line-up last night was the exact one that the captain started with in spite of all the criticism he received prior to the match for dropping Marcus Rashford.
One of the best examples of this is Bellingham. Having Henderson and Rice at his disposal allows him to play aggressively and on the front foot instead of worrying about what is happening behind him. England has become professional at navigating its way through international competitions under Southgate's leadership. They have the honor of having won a knockout in three consecutive tournaments for the first time in their history after the group stage turned into another procession. Regardless of how the Three Lions do against France, the manager has done enough to ensure the side will qualify for Euro 2024 even if they fall short. Kylian Mbappe will pose the toughest test, but Henderson can help out there. A combination of him, Kieran Trippier, and Kyle Walker might just be enough to stop the Golden Boot favorite in his tracks. Despite this, England fans should not worry, as Southgate will devise a strategy for the match. One name is firmly established in that starting XI, regardless of whether there are five at the back or four at the back.
