Promotion-winning Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson puts country over self

Goalkeeper Dean Henderson said he would rather concede ’three goals through his legs’ and England Under-21s win than the suffer the fate the befell them in their European Championship opener on Tuesday night.
England U21 goalkeeper Dean Henderson tips a shot from France U21's Nanitamo Ikone over the crossbar during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, Group C match at Dino Manuzzi, Cesena. (Picture: Nick Potts/PA Wire)England U21 goalkeeper Dean Henderson tips a shot from France U21's Nanitamo Ikone over the crossbar during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, Group C match at Dino Manuzzi, Cesena. (Picture: Nick Potts/PA Wire)
England U21 goalkeeper Dean Henderson tips a shot from France U21's Nanitamo Ikone over the crossbar during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, Group C match at Dino Manuzzi, Cesena. (Picture: Nick Potts/PA Wire)

Henderson – who helped Sheffield United win promotion while on a season-long loan from Sheffield United – impressed despite defeat as he saved Moussa Dembele’s first-half penalty and made several crucial stops in the 2-1 defeat to France in Rimini.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s stoppage-time own goal condemned the 10-man Young Lions to a 2-1 defeat after Jonathan Ikone’s 89th-minute leveller on Tuesday.

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That turned the tie on its head after England led through Phil Foden’s solo goal on 54 minutes.

It now leaves them with a battle to reach the last four, with just the three group winners and best runner-up going through.

“Obviously it was a good game and I played well but I’d change that right now for the three points. I’d rather let three through my legs and we win 4-3,” said Henderson.

“I’m just that sort of character – I’m all in for the team and all in for my country.

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“It is one of those nights but I’m sure I’ll have worse games and get the result. I’ll always take the result, all day long.”

Demarai Gray believes England Under-21s can still reach the Euro 2019 semi-finals despite their late collapse against France.

Defeat left England third in Group C, after Romania’s 4-1 win over Croatia, but Gray remains confident of making the semi-finals in Italy.

The Leicester winger said: “Yes, 100 per cent. We are not stressing, not worried. It is important we put goals in the net in the next couple of games.”

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