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The cat is well truly out of the bag. Nobody expected the conversation to be quite so revealing when Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers sat on the Lions’ Den sofa last week. Content controlled by the Football Association was an unlikely place for Bellingham to drop a few truth bombs, but the England midfielder was not minded to hold back when it was time to discuss his experience at Euro 2024.
“It didn’t feel like there was any kind of hierarchy,” the 22-year-old 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 – for a number of reasons.”
And there it was. That there were issues within the camp two years ago was not exactly a jaw-dropping revelation but to hear one of the squad’s most important players being open about it before England attempt to win the World Cup was significant.
“We weren’t playing particularly well, which doesn’t help,” Bellingham said. “Even when we were winning we didn’t get the feeling that we were as happy as we should be. You want to win, but the nature of football is that wins go out of the system very quickly.”
England never held on to the feeling. The vibe was off and the lack of connection was palpable. England were confused and the warning signs were there when they set off for Germany, summed up by Gareth Southgate having to take Harry Kane for a walk around Tottenham’s training ground to explain the thinking behind his squad for the tournament.
The generous description of Southgate’s decisions would be bold. A more accurate assessment, though, is that he completely lost sight of who he was as a manager. After putting so much store into creating the right culture around the camp, there was shock when he picked a host of youngsters with little experience of international football and dropped Harry Maguire, Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford and, most importantly of all, Jordan Henderson.
England never found a way to operate without Henderson’s leadership. They toiled before their luck ran out in their defeat to Spain in the final. Bellingham produced brilliant moments but there were times when petulance crept into his game. The impression was of a kid who needed a senior pro to put an arm around his shoulder. Henderson, who is extremely protective of Bellingham, was missed; no wonder Kane was so relieved when Thomas Tuchel decided his first big call after replacing Southgate as head coach would be to bring the former Liverpool midfielder back into the fold.
Tuchel had spent a lot of time trying to understand why England played with such little identity. The German listened and concluded that creating the right atmosphere off the pitch would be much easier with Henderson around to keep standards high in the dressing room.
Henderson turns 36 when England face Croatia in their opening game at the World Cup on Wednesday. The Brentford midfielder is not a starter and has lost some of his running power. The accusation is that Henderson is only in the US to lay out the cones and act as Bellingham’s minder. Plenty of fans felt his international career should have been over when he left Liverpool for the Saudi Pro League in 2023.
Those views persist. Why not look to the future and pick Adam Wharton? The answer lies in how much Henderson is respected by his teammates. Tuchel has looked into group dynamics. He has repeatedly talked about creating a brotherhood and has noted that players come out of their shell when Henderson is in the camp.
Bellingham and Rogers used their Lions’ Den appearance to call Henderson the best person they have ever met in football. Both talked about how much he does behind the scenes. Henderson is the glue holding everything together and he exuded authority when he spoke to the media for 25 minutes at England’s training base in Kansas City on Monday.
He defended Bellingham, saying external perceptions of the 22-year-old’s character are well off beam. He was effusive about the influence of Declan Rice, who has been named England’s new vice-captain. “It’s important to make sure the culture off the pitch is good but that’s not down to one person,” Henderson said. “Everyone has a role to play. It’s creating a culture to keep driving each other forward.”
Henderson brought the intensity when England played Miami FC in a behind closed doors friendly last Thursday. A day before, he had watched from the sidelines as Tuchel’s side crushed Costa Rica in Tampa. “When I look back at pre-tournament games, that is the very best I’ve seen,” Henderson said. “It’s about taking that into Croatia.”
Tuchel says pressing is key to England’s identity. Bellingham, selected over Rogers at No 10, was exceptional without the ball. He was key to an excellent display and looks to be in a much better place than at the Euros.
England know all too well that tournaments can hinge on making sure the mood in the camp is right. Tuchel has focused so much on character. He has picked hungry players. He wants healthy competition. His decision not to select Maguire looked smart when the defender spoke out about his omission on social media. Henderson no doubt resents the idea he is little more than a glorified cheerleader. He will feel he can still contribute on the pitch, even if his role is to come off the bench to help with game management.
Even so, it is impossible not to feel that Henderson’s leadership behind the scenes will be crucial. Southgate underestimated him. Having initially stood by Henderson after his move to Saudi Arabia, he changed his mind just before the Euros and decided he was no longer fit enough to merit selection.
Southgate lost sight of Henderson’s personality. Listening to Bellingham, it is clear to see why Tuchel did not make the same mistake.
