‘Why Wouldn’t I take It’: Ebere Eze Vows to Take Penalty for England Despite Champions League Miss
England midfielder Eberechi Eze has declared he is prepared to take a penalty at the FIFA World Cup if called upon, despite his recent miss in Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
The 27-year-old was the first Arsenal player to falter from the spot in the shootout, but he insists the setback will not deter him from stepping up again on the international stage.
Eze, a surprise inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, says he has drawn inspiration from other top players who have endured similar moments.
‘All the big players have missed big penalties, have experienced these types of moments,’ Eze said. ‘I’m grateful it happened. I’m going to grow from it, learn from it and move forward.’
He added that the mentality to keep going is what defines elite players, referencing teammates Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford, who have also overcome high-profile penalty misses. “You step up, you do what you need to do. If you miss, you miss. If you score, you score. It’s having the mentality to keep going,” he explained.
Asked if he would take responsibility for England in North America this summer, Eze was unequivocal: ‘If called upon, for sure. Why wouldn’t I take it?’
England will begin their World Cup campaign with confidence, knowing that Eze’s resilience and determination could prove vital in high-pressure moments.
