England have seen Netherlands and Germany both dumped out of the World Cup on penalties in the Round of 32 but Declan Rice insists that if it comes down to spot-kicks for the Three Lions, they'll be as good as anyone
Declan Rice insists England have the best set of penalty takers at the World Cup.
England midfielder Rice scored in the Champions League final shoot-out and, even though Arsenal lost, he would happily volunteer. Rice also believes Ivan Toney, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon will give them a huge edge if any of their knock-out ties go to penalties.
Gunners star Rice said: “I look as at this group now, I don't think there's a better crop of penalty takers that England have probably ever had. To be honest with you, I think I look at Harry, I look at Ivan, I look at Marcus, look at Anthony Gordon, Saka, I can take one, Jude.
“We have real strong takers, and I feel like as the tournament goes on, you obviously hear the stat about you have to win a penalty shootout to get to a final or to win the tournament, and you know that might come along the way. So we're going to be fully prepared for that.
“I think with Harry, it is incredible repetition and his process before the game’s even played, the day before he knows if he gets a penalty the next day, where he's going, there's no doubt in his mind.
“And I feel like that's what it's like with a lot of the lads, they would look at the keepers and study, but they have so much belief in their own process and technique that they're going to score.
“Especially with these balls as well, from 12 yards if you hit it hard and well, I feel like keepers, it's tough to save, you know? If you put them in the corners, it's really tough to save, so yes, about having a process and being strong-minded.”
Rice says he has also gained in belief from the spot - even after Arsenal’s heartbreak when they lost to Paris Saint Germain in Budapest. He added: “I've never been the strongest penalty-taker, but I feel like over time, my penalty in the Champions League final, I’ve never been so confident for a penalty. I don't know what it was, I just have my process, I knew where I was going to go.
“I studied the keeper on where he thought I would have been, because my last couple of pens have been the other side. It was all about that mind games going on. But I felt really calm. I've been nervous with penalties before.
“We played Palace earlier in the season, I was so nervous to take the pen. I scored. But I didn't feel as nervous when I did in that final.”