Southgate to pick Henderson for England despite Wembley boos،
England manager Gareth Southgate has maintained his support for Jordan Henderson after the midfielder was booed during the win over Australia on Friday, reiterating he will make selections based on who is most likely to help the team win and not its popularity.
Asked at a press conference on Monday whether he would still choose Henderson if the jeers continued, Southgate was unequivocal.
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“Yes, 100%. I will always choose the players who I think are the best to represent the team, who give us the best chance of winning, unless there is something that I consider inappropriate “said Southgate.
“In this case, people may disagree with Jordan’s position, or with his decision, given the position he has taken in the past, to support the LGBT community. But I don’t think that’s a reason not to select him and I don’t think it’s a reason not to select him. it’s a reason to boo him.”
Southgate later added: “If I just picked a popularity contest then our team would be very, very different.”
Henderson left Liverpool for the Saudi Pro League in July on a three-year deal. The move to Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is illegal, made headlines because Henderson has long been a strong supporter of the LGBT community.
Southgate said after Friday’s match that he didn’t understand the boos, saying it “defies logic.”
On Tuesday, he explained that stance, saying: “I don’t understand why we would boo our own team.
“I don’t believe he’s an individual whose values and principles have changed, and I would support him against almost anyone in the country in terms of what he stands for, what he believes in.
“But I accept that the decision to go and play there does not correspond to that. He understands that, he accepts it.”
Henderson himself told Sky Sports that he intends to continue playing for his country for as long as possible.
England face Italy at Wembley on Tuesday in a rematch of the last European Championship final in 2021.
The hosts are three points ahead of their visitors at the top of the qualifying group. A victory for England would be enough to guarantee their place at the 2024 edition.
