The choice of Jordan Henderson has become a central topic of discussion for the England team under coach Thomas Tuchel. With this decision, it felt like Tuchel was looking into the past instead of the future.
Henderson has not been a household name domestically and internationally since his last call-up to the England team in March 2024. That was the time when the former Liverpool midfielder made the controversial move when joining Al Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League. And just 6 months later, the deal collapsed.
The oar appeared when Henderson was substituted in November 2023 for the "Three Lions". The move to the Middle East is expected to end Henderson's career with England, where he has played 81 times and participated in 6 major tournaments.
That is even more likely to happen after Henderson did not play a single single player for England in 2024. During the FIFA Days in March last year, Gareth Southgate and Lee Carsley ( interim coach) did not call back this veteran midfielder.
So why did Tuchel, who had little time to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, decide to put his trust in the 34-year-old?
Tuchel can point to Henderson's qualities as a leader. Especially in the squad of 15 players who have played for the national team less than 10 times. And most of Tuchel's excuses for picking the 34-year-old have focused on his personal qualities.
Tuchel has called the former Liverpool captain a "consecutive winner" having won the Champions League and Premier League at Anfield. The German tactician believes Henderson will raise the bar around him.
"Henderson has been a glue in every team he plays for. He will be the glue that makes everything special" - said the England head coach.
And that is what Tuchel needs right now. This is not a team for the future as the "Three Lions" are tasked with quenching their thirst for titles at the 2026 World Cup next year. Therefore, it is no surprise that Tuchel has confidence in experienced players like Henderson.
For example, right-back Kyle Walker had a difficult half season at Man City before moving to AC Milan in January this year. However, he still kept his position, as one of only two players in the team with more international experience than Henderson.
However, that may not be enough to ease the disappointment that Adam Wharton or Conor Gallagher have to go through. Especially since both were named in the 26-man squad for EURO 2024.
Henderson, at the age of 34, cannot argue that he is at the same level as Wharton or Gallagher. But Tuchel will certainly have a reason behind this decision.
In the "Three Lions" squad, there are only 3 central midfielders. And remember, Jude Bellingham has hardly played in that position since joining Real Madrid. Therefore, it is likely that Henderson will be given the opportunity to play against the upcoming Albania and Latvia.
With that mindset, it is unlikely that Tuchel would have chosen Henderson just for his personality. The 34-year-old midfielder's statistics in the Dutch national championship (Eredivisie) this season are really impressive.
Returning to his "number 6" position, Henderson is playing as a complete midfielder. The former Liverpool player has won more home possession than most of the other central midfielders in the competition. In addition, he also has the fourth highest pass completion rate in the home field.
Henderson's Ajax are currently leading the Eredivisie with 6 points more than the second-placed team. This is considered an incredible turn of fate for a club that has gone through a turbulent 2023-2024 season.
Can Henderson carry that spirit to help England reap success? This question is difficult to answer, but one thing is for sure, Tuchel always trusts Henderson.
"We called a few weeks ago to ask and see how Henderson felt about returning to the England team. It was a video call, so I could see Henderson's reaction.
He appreciated that. For me, it was great to see Henderson's sincere reaction. You can see his pure joy and happiness when making a decision. It was impressive," said Tuchel.
