News Focus
- Eberechi Eze confirms he remains ready to take a penalty for England at the World Cup despite his costly miss for Arsenal against Paris Saint-Germain
- The midfielder refuses to change his stuttering technique after the Champions League final setback and previous misses for Crystal Palace
- Former manager Gareth Southgate sends a good luck message but will avoid punditry to prevent distractions for Thomas Tuchel’s squad
- Eze draws inspiration from teammates Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka, who overcame penalty heartbreak at Euro 2020
Eberechi Eze has declared he will not hesitate to step forward if England require a penalty taker during the World Cup, even after his costly miss for Arsenal in last month’s Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
The attacking midfielder sent his spot kick wide during the shootout in Budapest, which saw the Gunners lose the European crown to the French side. However, the 27-year-old insists this disappointment will not shake his confidence. He maintains he will keep his distinctive run-up despite also seeing penalties saved for Crystal Palace against Liverpool and Newcastle last season.
“I have been taking penalties for many years. This is simply part of the journey,” Eze explained. “You must keep improving and finding ways to get better. I will not worry too much because I know I am in this position for a reason. All the training I have done supports this.”
The Arsenal star believes football requires mental strength to handle both success and failure. “The game contains everything. You must accept situations as they come and enjoy the experience,” he said. “Playing in a Champions League final is exactly where I want to be. We will challenge for it again next season. If another penalty comes my way, I will be ready. Every great player has missed important penalties. I have received messages from everyone about these moments. I am actually grateful this happened because I will grow and learn from it.”
Meanwhile, former England manager Gareth Southgate has wished the squad luck but confirmed he will not work as a television pundit during the tournament. The coach, who left his position after losing the Euro 2024 final to Spain, wants to avoid creating distractions for Thomas Tuchel’s side.
“I just wanted to wish all the boys good luck,” Southgate said in an Instagram video. “I know all those big knockout nights we shared mean they will feel confident. They have cleared so many hurdles, winning shootouts and semi-finals. They came so close before and now they are ready to win.”
When Southgate took charge in 2016, England’s confidence was low. He guided them to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and the Euro 2020 and 2024 finals. The Football Association hopes Tuchel can now guide the team to their first trophy since 1966.
“I have attended the last seven World Cups as a player, broadcaster, scout and manager,” Southgate added. “This time I chose not to do television work. I did not think it would help for me to discuss the team. I do not want anything misunderstood or thrown at them during press conferences. It is better for me to stay away.”
Eze confirmed he would definitely accept penalty responsibility for the Three Lions. “If the manager calls my name, absolutely. Why would I refuse?” he asked.
England improved their penalty record significantly during Southgate’s time. They won their first World Cup shootout against Colombia in 2018 and scored five perfect penalties against Switzerland at Euro 2024. However, social media criticism was severe after they lost the Euro 2020 final to Italy on spot kicks.
Eze has studied how Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka dealt with their misses against Italy. Both forwards are in the current squad, with Saka scoring against Switzerland two years ago to overcome his trauma.
“Even before speaking to them, you can see how top players conduct themselves,” Eze observed. “You step up and do your job. Sometimes you score, sometimes you miss. The key is having the mentality to continue. That forms part of the journey.”
Besides the PSG miss, Eze has enjoyed an excellent two years. He scored the winning goal when Crystal Palace defeated Manchester City in the 2025 FA Cup final. He then helped Arsenal win the Premier League title after joining Mikel Arteta’s team last summer.
“Winning trophies gives you a different level of confidence,” Eze noted. “Many players in this squad have that winning experience now. This will only help us at this tournament.”
Eze faces competition from Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers for the number ten position. He will likely start on the bench against Croatia in Group L on Wednesday, but he can play anywhere across the front line. “That is the type of player I am,” he said. “I am not limited to one position. Wherever the team needs me, I will play. I will express myself and enjoy the occasion.”