Jordan Henderson is a consummate captain, whatever the state of affairs. Even when he isn’t formally the captain, the veteran midfielder is at all times one of many first to step up and tackle a management function when wanted.
Such was the case after England misplaced a heartbreaker of a match towards France within the Spherical of 16 within the FIFA World Cup. Official England captain Harry Kane was inconsolable, having missed a late penalty kick that may have tied the match 2-2, and so it was Henderson who stepped as much as communicate to the media in his stead.
“Straight after the sport, it’s troublesome to seek out the proper phrases,” stated the Liverpool captain. “I assumed we gave all the pieces within the recreation.
“We had been disenchanted to go 1-0 down however I assumed the character and the mentality to maintain going within the second half and discover the equalizer, I can’t say anymore actually. We gave it all the pieces and sadly it wasn’t our night time.”
After England conceded an early Aurélien Tchouaméni aim, Henderson and The Three Lions mounted a ferocious response. Harry Kane dispatched a penalty earned by Bukayo Saka within the 54th minute, however England fell behind once more within the 78th minute after an Olivier Giroud header.
England got a lifeline within the 81st minute after Mason Mount was blatantly barged over within the field and finally awarded a penalty, however in his second journey to the spot Kane blazed the ball excessive over the bar. Afterwards, quite than forged blame, Henderson sought to defend the official captain of the group.
“We all know what number of penalties Harry has scored for us,” Henderson famous. “He scored the primary one and what number of has he contributed for us to even get right here? So he’ll be stronger for it in the long term I’m positive. He’s a world-class striker, our captain and as a group we wouldn’t be right here with out him.”
England generated loads of possibilities exterior of the penalties, and sure ought to have scored one or two extra. Some heroic goalkeeping from Hugo Lloris was the distinction within the match. It was a terrific displaying from Henderson and the remainder of the squad regardless of the consequence.
“We felt actually good,” he added. “The performances had been actually good, the main target and the starvation had been good each single day whereas we had been right here. Sadly, like I stated, it wasn’t our night time. We’ve bought to offer credit score to France who’re group, however I felt it was there for us to win tonight.”
With Henderson and unused substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold out with England together with Virgil van Dijk and the Dutch and Alisson and Fabinho with Brazil, France’s Ibrahima Konaté in the one Purple nonetheless in rivalry. He and France face Morocco on Wednesday at 7PM GMT for an opportunity to go to the ultimate.