England midfielder Jordan Henderson sustained a significant wrist injury during celebrations following his side’s World Cup last-16 victory against Mexico. The incident occurred at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium after England secured a 3-2 win, advancing them to the quarter-finals.
Manager Thomas Tuchel described the injury as “really bad” and “quite serious.” Henderson, who is 36 years old and plays for Brentford, reportedly fell awkwardly from the advertising hoardings while celebrating. He was later seen leaving the pitch on a stretcher and was taken to hospital.
Injury Details and Immediate Aftermath
During the post-match press conference, Tuchel confirmed that Henderson was in hospital. “Jordan just fell over and injured his wrist. It looks really bad,” Tuchel stated. He added that the injury did not fit the celebratory mood of the evening. Medics were quickly called to attend to Henderson by teammate Dan Burn, and the midfielder received treatment, including oxygen, before being carried away.
Henderson will not return with the rest of the England squad to their World Cup base in Kansas City. Instead, he will remain in Mexico City, accompanied by a member of England’s medical staff. This decision underscores the severity of the injury, as the team prepares for their next match.
The midfielder’s involvement in the World Cup had been limited to a six-minute appearance during England’s Group L win over Panama. He was an unused substitute in the match against Mexico, though he received a booking from the sidelines for interfering during second-half stoppage time.
England’s Dramatic Victory and Upcoming Fixture
England’s victory over Mexico was a dramatic affair. Goals from Jude Bellingham, who scored a brace, and a penalty from Harry Kane secured the win. The match saw England play a significant portion of the second half with 10 men after Jarell Quansah received a straight red card following a VAR review for a high tackle on Jesus Gallardo.
Despite Mexico’s Raul Jimenez converting a penalty after a foul by Kane on Brian Gutierrez, creating a tense final 20 minutes, England managed to hold on for the win. This marked the first time Mexico had been beaten at the Azteca in the World Cup, overcoming a historical challenge for England.
Tuchel expressed immense pride in his team’s performance, highlighting their mentality and attitude. “Round of 32, round of 16 is the moment in tournaments where you find a way to win. We did it with pure mentality, with heart. We overcame every obstacle that was thrown at us,” he commented. Bellingham also praised the team’s resilience, noting that they “stuck together until the last second” despite playing with 10 men.
Looking ahead, England’s next match is a quarter-final tie against Norway. This fixture is scheduled to take place in Miami on Saturday at 22:00 BST. Henderson’s injury means he is likely to join Reece James, who sustained a hamstring injury in England’s opening match, on the sidelines. Additionally, Jarell Quansah will be unavailable for the upcoming match due to his red card against Mexico.
The atmosphere at the Azteca Stadium was described by Bellingham as the best he has experienced in international football, acknowledging the passion of the Mexican fans. Despite the challenges, including refereeing decisions, England progressed to the next stage of the tournament.
Read Also
Source: bbc.com
George Hartwell is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB.org, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with twelve years of reporting experience. He reported on West Country football before national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of the West of England and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Bristol, he watches grassroots football and writes a tactics column. “Tactics tell you more than any scoreline.”