HENDERSON: WE WON’T SETTLE FOR SECOND
ENGLAND MIDFIELDER SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP WINNING MOMENTUM GOING BY BEATING BELGIUM
JORDAN HENDERSON insists England wi l l go a l l o u t to beat Belgium on Thursday because they are not afraid to face anyone at the World Cup.
Captain Harry Kane scored a hat-trick as England thrashed Panama 6-1 to qualify for the last 16 in just two matches but the clash against Roberto Martinez’s men in three days’ time will decide who goes through as winners of Group G.
Sources in Belgium suggest that some of their players are privately hoping to finish runners-up because it could make for an easier pathway to the final in the latter stages.
There is a strong possibility that going through in first place will mean a quarter-final tie against Brazil or Germany, but Henderson is adamant England will not ease off just to avoid such teams.
“Our thinking is we are ready to take on any opponent,” said the Liverpool captain. “I’m not too sure what might happen in the draw later on, I’m not thinking that way. We are just concentrating on beating Belgium. We want to keep winning, we want to top the group, we want to keep this run going. If you want to do well in the World Cup, you have to defeat good teams anyway so it doesn’t really matter who you get.
“There is no chance of us taking our foot off the pedal. We want to build on our performances, we want our level to keep improving. It gives you momentum, it gives you rhythm. You want to keep that going right the way through the tournament.”
England and Belgium have the same points, the same goal difference and goals scored and against, but Gareth Southgate’s men top the group by virtue of a better disciplinary record.
Should Thursday’s game in Kaliningrad be drawn, those yellow and red cards will make the difference. It has led to suggestions that players could look to get themselves booked to affect the standings.
But Henderson added: “We don’t want to be thinking too far into things and getting caught up in all that sort of stuff. Top teams win games, it’s as simple as that.
“You ask anyone in the England squad — they want to win this game. No matter what the circumstances, you want to be winning, keep things going in the right direction.”
England manager Southgate has admitted he will consider making changes to rest some players and give others not involved so far some gametime. Martinez has already vowed to do the same thing.
While Henderson understands the logic, the midfielder says nobody will