Eberechi Eze has declared he will take penalties for England in the World Cup, despite missing from the spot in last month's Champions League final when Arsenal lost to Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest. "If called upon, for sure. Why wouldn't I?" Eze told reporters ahead of England's opening match against Croatia tomorrow.
The 26-year-old attacking midfielder has experienced penalty misses before, with missed kicks for Crystal Palace against Liverpool and Newcastle in the previous season. However, Eze emphasised his determination to move past recent disappointments. "I've taken penalties for a long time and it's part of the journey. You have to accept everything and grow from it," he said.
Eze added: "All the big players have missed big penalties. I'm grateful it happened. I'm going to grow from it and move forward." England begin their Group A campaign against Croatia at 21:00 BST on June 15 in Kansas City.
Betting impact: Eze's penalty confidence and continued availability reduce injury-concern volatility for England's shootout odds. His participation strengthens England's spot-kick market positioning in potential knockout ties.