Celebrations marred by injury
England midfielder Jordan Henderson sustained a significant wrist injury during celebrations following his side’s dramatic World Cup last-16 victory over Mexico. The incident occurred at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium after England secured a 3-2 win. Manager Thomas Tuchel described the injury as “really bad,” noting that it cast a shadow over the team’s memorable triumph.
Henderson, who was an unused substitute in the match, joined his teammates on the pitch after the final whistle to celebrate the historic victory. Videos circulating on social media showed the midfielder falling awkwardly from the advertising hoardings. He appeared to lose his balance after climbing onto the boards, landing on his wrist and requiring immediate medical attention.
Medical staff were seen rushing to Henderson’s vicinity shortly after the full-time whistle. He was given oxygen and subsequently carried off the pitch on a stretcher. Television cameras captured his removal from the stadium, and he was later transported to a hospital. This incident has raised concerns about his continued participation in the remainder of the tournament.
Manager’s reaction and team impact
England manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed the severity of the injury in post-match comments. “Jordan [Henderson] just fell over and injured his wrist. It looks really bad,” Tuchel stated. He added that it was a “quite serious injury” and expressed that it did not fit the celebratory mood of the evening that Henderson was no longer with the team. Tuchel also mentioned that the doctor informed him Henderson was in the hospital.
Tuchel later reiterated his “mixed feelings” about the famous victory, acknowledging his sadness over Henderson’s injury. He explained that he did not know the exact medical procedure but was aware that Henderson was receiving hospital care. Henderson is being accompanied by a member of England‘s support staff and did not travel back with the team on Monday.
The injury to Henderson means he is likely to join Reece James on the sidelines, who sustained a hamstring injury in England‘s opening match of the tournament. Additionally, Jarell Quansah is unavailable for the upcoming match after receiving a straight red card during the victory over Mexico, further impacting the squad’s availability.
Match details and upcoming fixture
The match against Mexico saw England secure a 3-2 victory, with Jude Bellingham scoring two goals and Harry Kane converting a penalty. England had to contend with playing with 10 men after Jarell Quansah was sent off early in the second half for a challenge involving Jesús Gallardoan. Despite this setback, England managed to hold on for the win, which marked their 11th World Cup quarter-final appearance and ended Mexico‘s unbeaten World Cup record at the Estadio Azteca.
Henderson’s involvement in the tournament before this incident had been limited. His sole appearance came as an 84th-minute substitute against Panama in England‘s Group L win, where he played for six minutes. He had also been booked during the fractious game against Mexico for a confrontation on the sidelines, despite not featuring in the match itself.
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. The team will be preparing for this crucial encounter without Henderson, whose participation in the remainder of the tournament is now uncertain due to the wrist injury.
Source: bbc.com
