Henderson Defends Bellingham Ahead of England’s World Cup Opener Against Croatia

Jordan Henderson, the 35-year-old Brentford midfielder, has offered a robust defence of Jude Bellingham following a period of scrutiny directed at the Real Madrid star’s performances in an England shirt. Speaking from England’s training camp in Kansas City, Henderson made clear he struggles to reconcile the media narrative around Bellingham with what he witnesses at close quarters.

“I know a lot gets written in the media, I find it hard to read sometimes, really, because I just know just how big an influence he is on this team, how good a teammate he is off the field,” Henderson said. “What he gives us is just something really special. He really gives us an X-factor in our team.”

Bellingham has previously indicated he felt he was being used as a “scapegoat” within the national setup — a comment that amplified debate over his role heading into the tournament. That debate has taken on additional significance given England manager Thomas Tuchel’s declaration that Bellingham is not guaranteed a starting position at the 2026 World Cup. Both Bellingham and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers are reportedly in contention for the number 10 role in Tuchel’s lineup for Wednesday’s tournament opener against Croatia.

Despite the uncertainty around his starting status, Bellingham arrives at his third major international tournament as one of the more experienced members of the squad, having accumulated 48 caps at just 22 years of age. Henderson, who was included in Tuchel’s World Cup squad primarily for his leadership qualities and his established relationship with several younger players, drew on his long history with Bellingham to contextualise that experience.

“I can remember six years ago, I gave him his first cap and how much he has grown as a player and person since then is incredible really,” Henderson said. “I had a good idea when I first saw him playing and training and the way he was. What he has done so far at such a young age, I think everybody forgets how young he is, even me sometimes.”

Henderson was unequivocal in his assessment of Bellingham’s value to the squad. “I honestly couldn’t speak highly enough of him,” he added. “He has had big moments in his career, he is a big game player. He has got experience in tournaments. He is a huge, huge player for us in this tournament.”

Bellingham’s club form at Real Madrid has been among the most scrutinised elements of his season, with the midfielder enduring a more inconsistent campaign compared to his standout debut year in Spain. At international level, however, he was central to England’s run to the Euro 2024 final, where they were beaten by Spain. His involvement in high-stakes knockout football gives Tuchel a difficult selection decision, balancing Bellingham’s big-game pedigree against questions over his current form and preferred positional role.

England face Croatia in their 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage opener on Wednesday, with the match representing Tuchel’s first competitive fixture in charge of the national side following his appointment earlier this year.