Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart has summed Jordan Henderson up perfectly, with the ex-Liverpool midfielder's importance at the World Cup clear for Thomas Tuchel
18:42, 20 Jun 2026
Jordan Henderson at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, United States.
Jordan Henderson at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, United States.(Image: Stefan Koops/EYE4IMAGES/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Former England international Joe Hart, who played for his country alongside Jordan Henderson, has ended the debate over whether Thomas Tuchel was right to take the ex-Liverpool captain to the US for the World Cup.
Henderson was named in the traveling party for the tournament, even though he is unlikely to feature that much for the Three Lions. His experience and standard-setting in training, however, were viewed as vital.
Tuchel's side won 4-2 against Croatia in their opening fixture at the competition. They still have Ghana and Panama left to play in the group and should qualify for the knockout phase with ease.
Should England make it two wins from two and mathematically book its spot in the last-16 with a game to spare, Tuchel could field the likes of Henderson.
And Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers spoke glowingly about the 34-year-old earlier in the week when they were asked about his importance behind the scenes.
"He's got no ego when it comes to supporting the team," Bellingham said. "I mean, he's a Champions League winning captain, Premier League winning captain, [but] he's doing the sets (teeing up the ball) for the finishes yesterday."
Jordan Henderson (R) of England greets Jurgen Klopp (L) prior the 2026 FIFA World Cup First Stage Group L match between England and Croatia
Jurgen Klopp and Jordan Henderson reunited during the World Cup(Image: (Photo by Jose Hernandez/Anadolu via Getty Images))
Reacting to those comments, with Rogers equally as enthusiastic about Henderson, Hart said: "I think it's really important for context in a clip like that, because everyone is going to talk about his personality.
"But they were very complimentary of his footballing ability. He's a top player, so you earn that immediate bit of respect that they are talking about by being a brilliant footballer, and sprinkle on top that personality.
"Now, I played with Jordan 29 times. He wasn't a senior pro when I played with him, but he was a brilliant midfielder who was working really hard in the game.
"His mentality and his talent, he learned from the best around him. He learned from the likes of Steven Gerrard at Liverpool what makes a good teammate and a good leader.
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"He will stand up for himself, and he will stand up for his team, and ultimately, he is a winner. Thomas Tuchel has seen enough to put himself in his squad for a reason.
"He is not there as a cheerleader. He is there because he is a top professional. Add in that charisma and what he means to England and what England means to him, and I think he is a really good and really clever pick from Thomas Tuchel."
Liverpool.com says: Henderson deserves his place in the US. If England goes far, he will play his part. Tuchel's roster picks were controversial, but he clearly has a plan. Few teams have looked better than the Three Lions so far.