Rice: We are definitely England's strongest penalty takers, with excellent mental fortitude

England will face the Democratic Republic of Congo. Before the match, Rice accepted an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph. The original content was too long, so this is the second part.

Group stage performance heavily criticized, interpreting the difficulty of breaking down compact defenses

Rice is well aware of the public's dissatisfaction with England's group stage performance. Apart from a brilliant second half against Croatia, the overall performance in other matches was mediocre.

"It's hard to explain. Media friends can understand, but neutral fans find it hard to empathize: when the opponent retreats with ten men to defend, and then you compare that to the strength of England's entire squad, everyone wonders 'why can't we score four or five goals?'"

"But there are many variables in football. Ghana's defensive system is extremely mature, and the same applies to the match against Panama a few days ago. The coach said that Panama's world ranking is similar to Wales and Serbia, so they are by no means a weak team. They have good strength themselves, capable of fluid passing and control, and their counter-attacking threat is also extremely strong."

"Breaking down compact defenses and maintaining patience are essential lessons for us. And the most crucial point in breaking down a 'parked bus' is to score early—once we take the lead, the opponent will have to push forward, and defensive gaps will naturally be exposed."

Rice missed the group stage match against Panama, partly due to carrying a yellow card, which would have meant missing the next match if he received another; and partly because he had been playing with an injury. He revealed that hamstring nerve pain had bothered him since last Christmas, and he also took a heavy blow to his calf against Ghana. His health directly affects England's chances of winning the championship.

Rice dispelled public concerns while explaining his injury status:

"I'm perfectly fine, really. Everyone knows I've had slight discomfort in my hamstring, but it doesn't affect training or playing. I can play normally."

"In the final moments against Ghana, I took a hard kick to the calf. It bruised and swelled immediately and hurt for three days straight. It was purely an accidental injury; there was no pre-existing calf injury."

"Of course, I want to play every game, but the team's interests come first. Missing one game to give other teammates a chance to play, combined with the risk of a yellow card suspension, was a decision I completely support."

Regarding hamstring nerve pain

"This pain is very peculiar; it can even strike when sitting still. Not only does it hurt when playing football, but my leg also gets sudden sharp pains when resting at home. I've never had this type of injury before; this discomfort is very new to me."

"I've been managing it properly and getting plenty of rest in my spare time. Last season, I prioritized playing matches, and the pain actually eased towards the end of the season. After the Champions League final, I rested for a full week without any training. When I resumed training, my body didn't adapt immediately, and the pain intensified again, causing a stress reaction. After this tournament, I will rest completely, and my physical condition will definitely return to normal by the start of next season."

Leisurely daily life in Kansas City, a relaxed, secluded atmosphere

Like most England players, Rice enjoys the team's training camp life in Kansas City in the American Midwest. He even bought a Kansas City Royals baseball cap. "The team gave me a hat, and I already love collecting hats!" he said when talking about life in Kansas. "I went shopping a few days ago, and it felt so comfortable just walking around quietly."

Only one passerby driving by recognized him.

"It would be impossible to have such peace and quiet on the streets of London. This rare tranquility in Kansas is particularly precious. I can shop freely and enjoy my leisure time."

Regarding penalty shootouts

If England eventually wins the FIFA World Cup, this undisturbed peaceful life will cease to exist. To reach the final, the team will likely have to go through at least one penalty shootout, and Rice said the entire team is already prepared.

"I've never been a great penalty taker, but the penalty in the Champions League final was the most mentally stable I've ever been in my career." Although Arsenal ultimately lost to Paris Saint-Germain in the shootout, Rice calmly converted his penalty.

"I can't quite explain why. I have a fixed routine for taking penalties, and I had decided on the shooting direction before the game. I had studied the goalkeeper's saving habits and knew he anticipated I'd shoot to the other side, so I deliberately adjusted my shot path. It was a psychological battle throughout, but I felt exceptionally calm inside. In the past, I'd always get nervous when taking penalties. My heart was racing before taking a penalty against Crystal Palace this season, and although I scored, my mindset was completely different from the Champions League final."

"Honestly, looking at the current squad, this group of penalty takers is definitely the strongest in England's history. Kane, Toney, Rashford, Gordon, Saka, myself, Bellingham... everyone has excellent mental fortitude. There's no need for much instruction; they are incredibly resolute when stepping up to the spot."

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