Jordan Hendersonâs World Cup night ended in bizarre and painful fashion after the England midfielder suffered what Thomas Tuchel described as a âreally badâ wrist injury during the celebrations that followed the Three Lionsâ dramatic 3-2 win over Mexico.
Jordan Henderson was left in a heap after injuring his wrist during England’s celebrations
Henderson left the Azteca pitch on a stretcher and Thomas Tuchel said his issue is ‘really bad’
England had just completed one of the most memorable victories of the tournament, surviving a red card, two penalties and a furious Azteca atmosphere to reach the quarter-finals. But as the players and staff celebrated in front of their supporters, the mood suddenly changed when Henderson went down after a freak fall near the advertising hoardings.
The 36-year-old, who did not play in the match, had been arm-in-arm with team-mates behind the goal before attempting to climb back over the boards. He fell awkwardly and was left in visible distress, prompting medical staff to rush over. Henderson was eventually carried from the pitch on a stretcher and given oxygen, creating a concerning scene at the end of an otherwise euphoric night for England.
Moments before the fall Henderson, right, was arm-in-arm celebrating with his team-mates
Tuchelâs update afterwards was worrying. The England head coach said Henderson had injured his wrist and admitted the problem looked serious. The midfielder was taken to hospital and is expected to remain in Mexico City while the rest of the squad return to their World Cup base in Kansas City.
Harry Kane tried to offer a slightly calmer picture when speaking after the game, saying Henderson had hurt his arm but that he believed he was doing okay. Jude Bellingham was also cautious, explaining that the medical team had the situation under control and that the players had gathered around to support their team-mate.
The injury adds another strange chapter to Hendersonâs World Cup. He has played only six minutes at the tournament so far, appearing late in the group-stage win over Panama, yet still managed to receive a yellow card against Mexico despite not coming off the bench.
His place in the squad has been debated, with some viewing his selection as a decision based more on leadership and dressing-room influence than current playing role. Bellingham and Morgan Rogers recently praised his impact inside the camp, while former England captain John Terry questioned whether the public defence of Henderson felt like a coordinated message.
Now England must wait to learn the full extent of his injury before their quarter-final against Norway in Miami. After such a heroic victory over Mexico, Hendersonâs freak setback was the one sour note on a night that otherwise belonged to Englandâs resilience, courage and belief.
