World Cup or bust: Thomas Tuchel's England contract length has led to Jordan Henderson recall - and could yet jeopardise Euro 2028 hopes on home soil

Even Southgate, with his reputation and track record for leaning on the old guard, had concluded last year that Henderson's days as an England player were over. Southgate had continued to pick the former Liverpool captain for four separate squads after his initial controversial move to Saudi Arabia and subsequent disappointing start to life with Ajax - and received a lot of flack for it - but left Henderson out of the squad for Euro 2024 after noticing the veteran's declining intensity after an injury.

The manager, who had picked Henderson for the previous three tournaments, did not take the decision lightly, but he could also not ignore reality. "He is a fantastic professional and it was a difficult call to make," Southgate explained at the time. "He'll be a miss. He's an exceptional individual and fantastic human being. The determining factor is the injury he picked up in the last camp. He missed five weeks and he just hasn't been able to get to the intensity [we need] in the games since then."

So for Tuchel to turn to the 34-year-old Henderson nine months later, after he had only started just one of Ajax's previous eight matches, was a huge surprise and provoked an instant backlash. It also seemed at odds with the coach's aim to turn his England side into a Premier League-esque team, to "inject a little bit of club football into federation football". And while the return of Walker could be explained by the injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold, there were more logical alternatives in holding midfield than Henderson.

"I'm really surprised. He made his choice to go to Saudi, I thought that would be the end of him in an England jersey," said former striker Chris Sutton on Football Focus. "And the biggest thing is Conor Callagher, what is he thinking? Tuchel isn't picking players on form."

Tuchel effectively admitted as much when he explained his reasoning for including the Ajax midfielder, barely mentioning his recent performances and instead pointing to what Henderson can bring off the pitch.

"Jordan is a serial winner. He's captain of Ajax. What he brings to every team is leadership, character, energy and personality," he said. "He makes sure everyone lives by the standards. He embodies everything we try to build. We want to build a team our fans are proud of."

Henderson is crucial to Tuchel's aim of "building a brotherhood", as he added: "Football in general, and maybe even more international football, is about team spirit, it is about building a team that loves to play with each other, that transports the spirit to the fans, the nation and the country."

By entrusting Henderson to foster that bond, Tuchel was echoing what other coaches have said about the midfielder. Jurgen Klopp said of his former skipper's impact at Liverpool: "Nothing we achieved in the last few years would have happened without him, that’s easy to say. There are so many important things you do over a season to keep a group together, to keep a group going in difficult moments, and he is great in that. He brings everything you need to lead a football team."

Ajax coach Francesco Farioli, meanwhile, wasn't surprised by the announcement that Henderson was back in the England team, saying: "I completely understand Tuchel's decision. Jordan is a fantastic player and a special person. The English national team plays a special role in his life."

Henderson's inclusion, then, was a clear sign that Tuchel has only one thing on his mind: Winning the 2026 World Cup. And who can blame him for already thinking about how to foster a group mindset for next summer in North America, when England will be bidding to win their first major trophy in 60 years? That, after all, is the main reason why the FA decided to appoint a first foreign manager for 12 years.

Southgate took England to the brink of ending their long wait for a trophy partly on the strength of the team spirit he built, although his tactical acumen and in-game management ultimately proved to be a barrier to taking that final step. Tuchel is one of the best managers around when it comes to shaking up a match and going far in knockout competitions, and was therefore a logical appointment to reach that goal.

But the German's selection of Henderson, who will be 36 when the World Cup kicks off, was an acknowledgement of the importance of having experienced, seasoned players in the squad. And many of the most successful teams in international football have also made good use of veterans.

The 26-man Argentina squad that won the 2022 World Cup contained eight players over the age of 30; four were aged 34 or over and three of them - Lionel Messi, Angel di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi - started in the final against France. Four years earlier, the France side that won the 2018 World Cup had five players in a squad of 23 over the age of 30. The Germany side that lifted the 2014 World Cup was the most youthful of recent times, but still had two key veterans in Philip Lahm and Miroslav Klose, while the Italy starting XI that beat England in the Euro 2020 final had four players over the age of 30, with centre-backs Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini having a combined age of 70.

But Italy provide a healthy warning of the risks of choosing seniority over the next generation. While Roberto Mancini's side did win their nation's first major trophy in 15 years and a first European Championship in 52 years, the team suffered in the long run.

Only eight months after lifting the Henri Delaunay Trophy, they failed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, just as they had for Russia, losing their play-off tie with North Macedonia. They also had a dismal showing at Euro 2024, only sneaking into the knockout phase thanks to a 98th-minute goal against Croatia before being comfortably beaten 2-0 by Switzerland in the last 16.

And by looking to the likes of Henderson, Walker and Burn, Tuchel risks harming England's chances of excelling at Euro 2028, when they will be hosting the majority of matches during the tournament held in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Henderson and Walker will both be 38, Burn 35; they are highly unlikely to still be a part of the England team by then, and nor would Harry Kane, who would be on the verge of turning 35.

And yet if the likes of Henderson and Walker go to the World Cup, they will do so at the expense of players who should be the future of the team. What would it do to the confidence of Wharton and Gallagher if they end up watching the 2026 tournament from home while Henderson goes in their place? The same could be asked of Rico Lewis if Walker goes to the U.S.

But it is not just players who could be affected by England gambling on success at the World Cup. If Tuchel fails to win in 2026, or at the very least make it to the semi-finals, it is difficult to envisage him signing a contract extension. That would then leave England without a manager and back at square one, having to appoint another coach less than two years out from co-hosting the Euros. Teams tend to prioritise home tournaments once they are awarded them, but by getting Tuchel on board solely for the World Cup, 2028 feels like an afterthought for the FA.

There is, of course, the possibility that Tuchel ends up succeeding where Southgate failed and that, with Henderson gluing England together on and off the pitch, the Three Lions end up hoisting the World Cup at the MetLife Stadium. The trivial aspects of Tuchel's appointment that certain sections of the media have pored over would be swiftly forgotten and it would then be a no-brainer for him to sign a two-year extension and lead England into Euro 2028. Who knows, perhaps Henderson would even have a place on his coaching staff by then?...

But there is an overwhelming feeling that Tuchel is not looking beyond the World Cup and will not be around for the long haul. Since leaving Mainz in 2015, he has not stayed in any job for much longer than two years, lasting for 20 months at Chelsea and 13 at Bayern Munich. Tuchel even made light of his tendency for short tenures when he joked in his first press conference after accepting the job in October: "I'm working on my long-term game!"

England knew what they were signing up for when they signed a contract with the German and they are now seeing the reality of Tuchel's vision. Wharton's ascendancy to midfield puppet-master can wait, so too can Jarrad Branthwaite, Liam Delap and Ethan Nwaneri, it seems. It's Tuchel's way or the highway.

And the first stop could be Henderson anchoring the midfield against Albania on Friday at Wembley, with Kane leading the line and Marcus Rashford to his left. It feels like 2018 all over again, except with another seven years of football in everyone's legs. And don't worry too much about the general direction of travel; leave that to the next driver.