Jordan Henderson admits he is in Jordan Pickford's debt "forever" after England's World Cup 2018 penalty shootout win
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Jordan Henderson said he is will always owe Jordan Pickford — for rescuing him from being ­England’s latest shoot-out villain.
Henderson was the only Englishman to miss in Tuesday's World Cup penalty showdown win over ­Colombia, but Mateus Uribe hitting the crossbar and Pickford’s save from ­Carlos Bacca got him off the hook before Eric Dier slotted home to clinch a place in the weekend quarter-finals.
Both Henderson and Pickford started their careers at ­Sunderland, their hometown club.
When asked what the Liverpool midfielder said to him after the shoot-out win, Pickford smiled and said: “Aye, he said ‘Well done, you fellow Mackem’.
“I said, ‘Jesus, I’ve helped you out there, Lad!’
(Image: Getty)
(Image: Getty)
“That’s team-mates isn’t it? A bit of craic. We’re together, when one goes down we’ve got to pick them back up.”
Henderson said: “I thanked him and he said, ‘The Mackems stick together’. I can’t thank him enough, I’m forever in his debt.
“He got a bit of criticism last week – undeservedly – so I’m so happy for him to achieve that. He made some fantastic saves and I’m delighted for him and for everyone.
(Image: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
(Image: Getty)
“We’re a really close group, you can see that. It’s difficult when you miss and ­nothing can be said that’s going to make it all right, but it’s not about me.
“We won and that’s the main thing. We now need to recover and prepare well for Sweden.”
Henderson insisted his failure would not prevent him stepping up to take ­responsibility again, although he ­accepted ­Gareth Southgate may opt for another candidate.
(Image: AMA/Getty)
“It wouldn’t put me off taking another one, but it might put Gareth off,” said ­Henderson. “I’d take another one, but it’s down to the manager and I would ­understand if he chose someone else.
“I just had to go and execute the ­penalty, which I felt I did, but obviously not well enough and the keeper made a good save.
“Next time I need to make sure it’s higher or lower.”