Declan Rice has declared that Thomas Tuchel's current England squad boasts the best collection of penalty takers the nation has ever seen, as the Three Lions prepare for their first knockout tie of the 2026 World Cup against DR Congo in the round of 32.
England have historically struggled from the spot, but under former head coach Gareth Southgate, they won three of four penalty shootouts, losing only to Italy in the Euro 2020 final. Victories included Colombia in the 2018 World Cup round of 16, Switzerland in the 2019 UEFA Nations League third-place playoff, and again against Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarter-final.
Tuchel's Penalty Specialists
Tuchel has included Al Ahli's Ivan Toney in the squad partly due to his reputation as a penalty specialist. Other expert takers include Anthony Gordon and captain Harry Kane, who remains England's designated penalty taker.
Rice, recalling his own penalty for Arsenal in the Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest, said: "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."
Confidence in the Squad
Rice added: "I look 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 look at Harry, I look at Ivan, I look at Marcus [Rashford], look at Anthony Gordon, [Bukayo] Saka, I can take one, Jude [Bellingham can]. We have real strong takers."
He emphasized the team's preparation: "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. That's the same with a lot of the lads."
Mind Games and Preparation
Rice described the psychological aspect: "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. I felt really calm. I've been nervous with penalties before. We played [Crystal] 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."
When asked if he discusses his views with teammates, Rice said: "I can't go up to Kane and tell him about pens, because he is the best penalty taker. Everyone's mentality, we don't have to say anything, it's just relentless. Let's hope the keepers can save a few."
