England manager Gareth Southgate expressed his bewilderment as Jordan Henderson left the field to a chorus of boos from some sections of the Wembley crowd during the Three Lions’ victory over Australia.
The former Liverpool captain was substituted in the second half.
In response to the incident, Southgate swiftly came to Henderson’s defense, urging the fans to support the Saudi Pro League star.
He said: “I don’t understand it, he is a player who has 79 caps now for England, his commitment and what he has delivered for England is exceptional.
“His role within the group on and off the pitch is phenomenally important, he is the one who has taken the likes of Jude Bellingham under his wing.
“He’s also been a brilliant role model for the group in his professionalism and his approach to every part of his work.
“Some people decided to boo but I really don’t understand what that is for. We play Italy here on Tuesday, let’s get behind this team.
“I know we weren’t at our best tonight but that was due to a lot of changes that we made and we gave the players that were out there a really difficult task but this is a team that is delivering a lot and they deserve everyone’s support.”
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Despite beating the Socceroos, England did not perform at their best. However, it was a memorable night for Levi Colwill and Eddie Nketiah, both of whom made their debuts for the Three Lions.
Introducing two young players for their first international caps was among the highlights that Southgate is drawing from the game. Nevertheless, he believes that the team’s lack of experience ultimately had an impact on their performance on the field.
He added: “Normally we would put one or two of those lads in with a lot more experience and a lot more continuity so it was extremely hard for that group of players and it was completely understandable that we weren’t as cohesive.
“I thought we would use the ball better, but we didn’t.
“When you are not used to working together as a group and the approach is not quite right, teams can play through you and you can look vulnerable on the break.
“It wasn’t a win because of how we played, we had enough quality to create a couple of important moments.
“We know all the changes and inexperience made it tough for those that played.
“It was important to keep winning, it sets the game up now with Italy. It’s harder to prepare the squad when ultimately they know that is what this week is about.
England can qualify for Euro 2024 on Tuesday night but the boss is wary of the threat they will face under the Wembley arch.
He said: “Italy look revitalised under [Luciano] Spaletti, they were excellent against Ukraine and they are a top ten nation.
“We have the chance to qualify for the Euros with two games to spare and it is a great test to see where we are as a team and we are really looking forward to it.”