Jordan Henderson may have only been a bit-part player on the pitch in England’s Euro 2020 adventure so far but he has been widely praised as a key figure behind the scenes by many in the national team camp. The Liverpool captain has also captured the imagination of the nation with his unbridled displays of passion during the tournament so far. Now, he is on the verge of adding a European Championship to his already impressive trophy haul.
Unbridled joy for Hendo 🤩
Congratulations on reaching the final of #EURO2020, skipper! 👏 pic.twitter.com/v1lv1dPFc1
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 7, 2021
The Final Challenge
The Three Lions are 8/11 in the UEFA Euro 2021 winner odds, just ahead of opponents Italy who are priced at Evens to win the showdown at Wembley. That may come as a surprise to anyone who has followed the Italian’s progress in the tournament and over the last two years, but England’s home advantage has tipped the odds in their favour. Gareth Southgate’s men have already ended the country’s 55-year wait for a major final appearance and appear to be unfazed by any challenge put before them.
Unlikely to Start
After Henderson’s cameo displays including a debut England goal in the 4-0 thrashing of Ukraine, there have been calls for him to start in the final (and not just from Liverpool fans). The midfielder has the winning mentality and experience of lifting major trophies including the Champions League and Premier League.
As we have seen in the tournament so far, Southgate has been largely unswayed by public opinion. Both Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice have performed well so far and should be rewarded with a place in the final XI. Phillips in particular has been a revelation considering he hadn’t played a minute of Premier League football this time last year.
A Wealth of Experience
Henderson is more likely to start on the bench as he continues his return to full fitness. Yet, his experience could be crucial in the later stages of the game. The 31-year-old faced the difficult challenge of replacing Steven Gerrard as captain of Liverpool and subsequently led the club to one Europa League final, two Champions League finals (winning one) and their first Premier League title in 30 years.
He also lifted the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup to take his total Anfield trophy haul to five. If England wins on Sunday, he would become the first player in English football history to lift the Premier League, Champions League, Club World Cup, Super Cup and European Championship.
Silencing the Critics
Some questioned the Reds skipper’s inclusion in the squad as he hadn’t kicked a competitive ball for three-and-a-half months following an injury in the Merseyside derby. Former Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor even went as far as to call him ‘selfish’ for not giving up his place in the squad to a fully-fit player.
‘They want him round the place, for what? Does he do card tricks, does he have a sing song, does he do quizzes in the evening? What is he there for?’https://t.co/CDvpwq9LsX
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) June 6, 2021
Once again, Southgate ignored the critics and looks to have been proved right. He is a coach who sees the bigger picture and Henderson is clearly a hugely popular member of the squad who has a big influence on the younger players. What’s more, there is still time for him to have a significant impact on the field in what should be the most tactically challenging contest yet, against Roberto Mancini’s Italy.