You play in Arabia, we’ll boo! Former Liverpool captain takes it to the national team

Two wins, qualification for the Euros, yet the mood in England is not ideal. Jordan Henderson made his first start since his summer move to Saudi Arabia, and the fans ate it up.

The English fanbase is demanding, towards the national team perhaps the most of all national teams. Coach Gareth Southgate helps a lot with his nominations, he is often criticised for them.

Specifically, the coach’s favourites who don’t play on the club scene. Both Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips have been substitutes since last season, while Jordan Pickford alternates excellent performances with terrible ones at Everton.

Yet these players have never faced sustained criticism from the stands, apart from the occasional boos for Maguire. This time Jordan Henderson experienced that unpleasantness twice in the space of a week, but not because of performances.

Albion fans booed in response to Henderson’s departure from Liverpool to Saudi Arabia. It was his first national team game since leaving Europe, he was even given the confidence of the captain’s armband.

England supporters reacted in this way because of their disapproval of human rights abuses in Arabia linked to banned homosexuality. Reds supporters have also been critical of the captain’s departure.

“It doesn’t change who I am and what I do for my team and country. I always give it my absolute all,” Henderson told Sky Sports.

Boos met Henderson when he went off the field in the friendly against Australia and vice versa when coming off the bench against Italy. Teammates anyway after Harry Maguire confirmed qualification for the Euros.

“Proper England fans don’t boo the players. They don’t boo those who have dedicated their lives to the game and are doing everything they can to give this country something to remember and special moments for the fans’ families,” Maguire said.

Source: Sky Sports