Kyle Walker calls for unity from fans after Jordan Henderson was booed during win over Australia as he insists ‘let’s have his back’ ahead of crucial Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy

• Kyle Walker has defended team-mate Jordan Henderson ahead of Italy clash 
• He has called for fans to get behind the Al-Ettifaq star and the squad at Wembley 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ 

It is a familiar theme and one that has been played out on occasion by different England generations down the years.

The national team and its relationship with its own supporters and by extension, its media. Is it as good and as close and as supportive as it should be?

In the wake of the booing of Jordan Henderson at Wembley last Friday, Kyle Walker is not so sure. An England player for more than 12 years now, the Manchester City full back spoke ahead of Tuesday night’s European Championship qualifier with Italy about the fact the England dressing room is a more welcoming and inclusive place.

‘I’ve been here when it was tough to come to England,’ said Walker. ‘Those days when you’re in the hotels and no one talks to you, it was hard. So to come here and to share the moments that we have done with these players, even though we have fallen short, it’s been enjoyable.’

In terms of other aspects of the job, meanwhile, Walker feels some things remain unchanged. ‘I feel what the boss has done and what the boss has created, I don’t feel like he gets the credit for that at all,’ explained Walker. 

Kyle Walker has pleaded for unity from supporters ahead of England’s qualifier against Italy

‘All this has started with him because the older players were here before him with Roy Hodgson… I don’t think we were as close as we are now from when Gareth and Steve Holland first came into the picture.

‘Listening to his press conference here, he has to deal with some tough questions. Rather than concentrating on how well we are doing, we are concentrating on the boos and what we haven’t done rather than what we have achieved. It’s not easy to qualify for a competition.

‘Have they become used to us just qualifying? Now if we didn’t qualify, God knows. I wouldn’t leave my house. I’d have to stay indoors. We are qualifying and it’s still difficult to leave your house.

‘I don’t see the balance of it. We are doing well. Any manager in the world would love to manage this team and, instead of actually appreciating it, we are trying to pick the negatives and say, “They didn’t do this right” or “They didn’t do that right”.’

Whether Walker was talking about the media or the section of the England fanbase who feel manager Southgate actually holds the team back is hard to say. In terms of the supporters who follow England home and away, he was unequivocal.

He asked fans to have Jordan Henderson’s back after he was booed by fans against Australia

‘The fans are completely behind us, otherwise they wouldn’t turn up in their thousands, sell out Wembley and travel across the world to support us,’ Walker added. ‘I am not saying the England fans are not behind us. I understand they have their opinions like all of us. Fans pay hard-earned money to watch us and are entitled to their opinions.

‘About Jordan, they can have their opinion but he is representing the country. He is on the pitch, he is playing for the team and we want the team to do well, so we want him to do well. After the game say what you want but while he is performing and trying to do his job, let’s have his back.’

The visit of Italy to Wembley on Tuesday night brings opportunity for Southgate’s England team. A draw would see them qualify for next summer’s finals in Germany with two games to spare.

Equally, the Italians will probably never come to Wembley again without memories of the Euros final of two-and-a-half years ago being jogged.

People still ask Southgate whether there are things he would have done differently that night in July 2021. His answer remains the same.

‘If I had done something differently I don’t know how that would have played out,’ said Southgate. ‘You make decisions with the information you have at a given time and it’s played out in front of everybody. Everybody can then in hindsight say what should have happened but that tape is never played and nobody really knows the answer.’

England boss Gareth Southgate defended the Al-Ettifaq star after received jeers from his own supporters

Southgate insists he would not have changed anything from his side’s loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final

Southgate says he cannot recall where he was when he first watched the rerun of the Euro 2020 final, which his side lost on penalties, but insists it was an analytical rather than an emotional experience.

‘There were no tears,’ he deadpanned. The game, he says, played out pretty much as he remembered at the time. Equally, he believes this team are improving and feels that he is, too.

‘I hadn’t managed a European final before so the next one I am in, I will have another reference and more experience,’ he said. ‘It’s as simple as that.’

England are a long way from repeating their feat of the last Euros. They will travel to Germany as one of the favourites, though. A draw or better on Tuesday night and the detailed planning for another shot at glory can begin.

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