Jordan Henderson explains why this is the best England side he's played in
By Henry Burt
England midfielder Jordan Henderson says this is the best England side he has ever played in and has offered multiple reasons why that is the case.
Henderson has been a senior England international since 2010 and is taking part in his sixth major tournament with the Three Lions at the World Cup in Qatar.
While the 32-year-old has had to settle for a place on the bench for the majority of the World Cup so far, he is still heavily relied upon as a leader within the squad and started England's third group game against Wales.
Speaking ahead of England's round of 16 clash with Senegal, Henderson praised the team spirit within the current squad.
“I’d say the togetherness of this group is the closest it’s been," he said. "I thought Russia was close at the time but we’ve been through things together In Russia, been through the Euros, and experiences like that do make you stronger.
“I feel we’re in a really good place together at the moment, a really good team spirit, the work ethic and intensity in training, pushing each other on.
“Everybody wants to play but at the same time when we’ve finished training there’s that respect and everyone gets on and supports each other. We’ve got a good balance at the minute and we just need to keep that going.
“I feel we’re in a really good place together at the moment, a really good team spirit, the work ethic and intensity in training, pushing each other on.
“Everybody wants to play but at the same time when we’ve finished training there’s that respect and everyone gets on and supports each other. We’ve got a good balance at the minute and we just need to keep that going."
Henderson also mused on the quality of England's squad, and was asked whether he felt England had the strongest bench of the sides remaining in the competition.
“I’m sure Brazil’s isn’t too bad!" he responded. "Spain when I was watching them brought on top, top players – Jordi Alba came on, Ansu Fati came on, really exciting, experienced players as well, a good mixture in the squad. But I don’t really look too closely at other teams like that.
“For us as a team there is depth within the squad, a lot of options for the manager to go with in terms of starting games and then bringing people on, to change formations depending on who we’re playing and how the game is going.
“I have always felt the substitutes are really important in tournament football, always, even more so now with the five subs, in the past it has been three. Now five, so yes it enhances that a bit more.”