The German coach is already building towards winning the biggest prize in 2026 and not looking any further ahead – but what if the plan doesn't work?
Sir Gareth Southgate was often criticised for his loyalty to a core of England players. and that perception, rightly or wrongly, was a stick he was constantly beaten with despite his many successes as Three Lions boss. Thomas Tuchel, an outsider with no previous international experience, was expected to behave very differently and pick players on form alone. So it came as a great surprise when it was announced on Friday that Tuchel had included Jordan Henderson in his very first squad as Three Lions boss for their opening World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
Tuchel deciding to bring Henderson back was the main talking point from his debut selection and, along with the first ever call-up for 32-year-old Dan Burn and a recall for Kyle Walker, threw up all sorts of questions about the type of team the German is trying to build.
But don't blame Tuchel for recalling Henderson ahead of the likes of Adam Wharton and Conor Gallagher and pinning all his hopes on success next summer in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Instead, responsibility should fall squarely at the feet of the Football Association (FA), whose short-termism and narrow focus on the 2026 World Cup could yet work, but who are also at risk of doing harm to England's plans for the next European Championship on home soil in 2028 if it fails.
Getty Time felt up
Even Southgate, with his reputation and track record for leaning on the old guard, had concluded last year that Henderson's days as an England player were over. Southgate had continued to pick the former Liverpool captain for four separate squads after his initial controversial move to Saudi Arabia and subsequent disappointing start to life with Ajax – and received a lot of flack for it – but left Henderson out of the squad for Euro 2024 after noticing the veteran's declining intensity after an injury.
The manager, who had picked Henderson for the previous three tournaments, did not take the decision lightly, but he could also not ignore reality. "He is a fantastic professional and it was a difficult call to make," Southgate explained at the time. "He'll be a miss. He's an exceptional individual and fantastic human being. The determining factor is the injury he picked up in the last camp. He missed five weeks and he just hasn't been able to get to the intensity [we need] in the games since then."
So for Tuchel to turn to the 34-year-old Henderson nine months later, after he had only started just one of Ajax's previous eight matches, was a huge surprise and provoked an instant backlash. It also seemed at odds with the coach's aim to turn his England side into a Premier League-esque team, to "inject a little bit of club football into federation football". And while the return of Walker could be explained by the injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold, there were more logical alternatives in holding midfield than Henderson.
"I'm really surprised. He made his choice to go to Saudi, I thought that would be the end of him in an England jersey," said former striker Chris Sutton on. "And the biggest thing is Conor Callagher, what is he thinking? Tuchel isn't picking players on form."
AdvertisementAFP'Leadership and character'
Tuchel effectively admitted as much when he explained his reasoning for including the Ajax midfielder, barely mentioning his recent performances and instead pointing to what Henderson can bring off the pitch.
"Jordan is a serial winner. He's captain of Ajax. What he brings to every team is leadership, character, energy and personality," he said. "He makes sure everyone lives by the standards. He embodies everything we try to build. We want to build a team our fans are proud of."
Henderson is crucial to Tuchel's aim of "building a brotherhood", as he added: "Football in general, and maybe even more international football, is about team spirit, it is about building a team that loves to play with each other, that transports the spirit to the fans, the nation and the country."
By entrusting Henderson to foster that bond, Tuchel was echoing what other coaches have said about the midfielder. Jurgen Klopp said of his former skipper's impact at Liverpool: "Nothing we achieved in the last few years would have happened without him, that’s easy to say. There are so many important things you do over a season to keep a group together, to keep a group going in difficult moments, and he is great in that. He brings everything you need to lead a football team."
Ajax coach Francesco Farioli, meanwhile, wasn't surprised by the announcement that Henderson was back in the England team, saying: "I completely understand Tuchel's decision. Jordan is a fantastic player and a special person. The English national team plays a special role in his life."
GettyVeterans win prizes
Henderson's inclusion, then, was a clear sign that Tuchel has only one thing on his mind: Winning the 2026 World Cup. And who can blame him for already thinking about how to foster a group mindset for next summer in North America, when England will be bidding to win their first major trophy in 60 years? That, after all, is the main reason why the FA decided to appoint a first foreign manager for 12 years.
Southgate took England to the brink of ending their long wait for a trophy partly on the strength of the team spirit he built, although his tactical acumen and in-game management ultimately proved to be a barrier to taking that final step. Tuchel is one of the best managers around when it comes to shaking up a match and going far in knockout competitions, and was therefore a logical appointment to reach that goal.
But the German's selection of Henderson, who will be 36 when the World Cup kicks off, was an acknowledgement of the importance of having experienced, seasoned players in the squad. And many of the most successful teams in international football have also made good use of veterans.
The 26-man Argentina squad that won the 2022 World Cup contained eight players over the age of 30; four were aged 34 or over and three of them – Lionel Messi, Angel di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi – started in the final against France. Four years earlier, the France side that won the 2018 World Cup had five players in a squad of 23 over the age of 30. The Germany side that lifted the 2014 World Cup was the most youthful of recent times, but still had two key veterans in Philip Lahm and Miroslav Klose, while the Italy starting XI that beat England in the Euro 2020 final had four players over the age of 30, with centre-backs Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini having a combined age of 70.
Getty Warning from Italy
But Italy provide a healthy warning of the risks of choosing seniority over the next generation. While Roberto Mancini's side did win their nation's first major trophy in 15 years and a first European Championship in 52 years, the team suffered in the long run.
Only eight months after lifting the Henri Delaunay Trophy, they failed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, just as they had for Russia, losing their play-off tie with North Macedonia. They also had a dismal showing at Euro 2024, only sneaking into the knockout phase thanks to a 98th-minute goal against Croatia before being comfortably beaten 2-0 by Switzerland in the last 16.
And by looking to the likes of Henderson, Walker and Burn, Tuchel risks harming England's chances of excelling at Euro 2028, when they will be hosting the majority of matches during the tournament held in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Henderson and Walker will both be 38, Burn 35; they are highly unlikely to still be a part of the England team by then, and nor would Harry Kane, who would be on the verge of turning 35.
And yet if the likes of Henderson and Walker go to the World Cup, they will do so at the expense of players who should be the future of the team. What would it do to the confidence of Wharton and Gallagher if they end up watching the 2026 tournament from home while Henderson goes in their place? The same could be asked of Rico Lewis if Walker goes to the U.S.
