ENGLAND midfielder Jordan Henderson revealed he hired a van to drive his family to watch the Euro 2024 final.
Ex-Sunderland midfielder Henderson was left out of Sir Gareth Southgate’s squad for last summer’s tournament in Germany but felt he had to be in Berlin to watch his team-mates go for glory against Spain.
After finding a flight proved impossible, the Ajax captain, who has been brought out of the international wilderness by new boss Thomas Tuchel, hired a car in Amsterdam and crossed Europe to get to the game.
“I didn’t know until late doors whether I could go with training, or times or schedule,” the 34-year-old said. “We were off or in late the next day so I was able to go.
“But then when I found out I could go, the flights, there was none, anywhere. I couldn’t go from England. Couldn’t go from Amsterdam.
“So then I looked at how far it was, and I hired like a van for me and the family and the kids. And we drove across. I think it was like seven hours or something.
“I felt I’d been a part of the qualifying campaign. I think that I was in every squad right up until the Euros.
“I was watching on the telly, and it was hard, but all I wanted was the lads to do well and win. So I had a good feeling that we were going to win, so I needed to be there to see it.
“But unfortunately, it didn’t work out. But I was happy that I went to watch them live anyway.”
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Having not played for England since November 2023, many thought his international career was over, but Thomas Tuchel sprung a surprise by recalling him in his first squad since taking over from Southgate.
He came on as a second-half substitute in Friday’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Albania and insists he never gave up hope of pulling on the England shirt again.
Asked if he considered his international career over, he said: “Not really, otherwise I would have retired.
“Obviously I was disappointed but I still feel physically fit, still feel good and I was never going to shut that door.
“I always felt good. Deep inside, I always wanted to come back. Whether or not I got the opportunity wasn’t down to me so much but thankfully I kept my head down, kept working hard, kept doing the right things.
“I’ve had a good season this year with Ajax and thankfully I got the opportunity to come back.
“To be honest, from my first cap up until now, anyone who sees me on the football pitch representing my country can see my commitment to England.
“I’ve always wanted to represent England, I’ve always wanted to give absolutely everything every time I’ve been here and that will never change.
“I’m just delighted to back in and try and help the boys winning games.”
Meanwhile, Monday’s World Cup qualifer against Latvia at Wembley will see the Football Association and Kick It Out pay tribute to Lord Herman Ouseley, on what would have been his 80th birthday.
Ouseley, who founded Let’s Kick Racism Out of Football in 1993, a campaign that later evolved into Kick It Out, the game’s leading anti-discrimination organisation, died in October.
A short film will be shown ahead of kick-off at Wembley while England’s first black player Viv Anderson and first black goalscorer Luther Blissett will receive red legacy caps.
