Eberechi Eze has declared he will not shy away from taking penalties for England at the 2026 World Cup, brushing aside any lingering doubts following his saved spot-kick in the UEFA Champions League final.

The Arsenal midfielder saw his penalty stopped by the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper during the shootout in Budapest, as Arsenal fell to defeat in the final. Yet Eze insists the experience has only strengthened his resolve.

"If called upon, for sure. Why wouldn't I take it?" Eze told Tribal Football. "Football is full of everything, and you have to try to accept everything as it is to enjoy it as much as you can."

Growing from the miss

Rather than dwelling on the disappointment, Eze has framed the miss as a moment to grow from. He expressed no regret about being in that position, pointing to the broader culture among elite players who have faced similar setbacks.

"All the big players have missed big penalties and have experienced these types of moments," he said. "For me it's not something I wish never happened. I'm grateful it happened. I'm going to grow from it, learn from it, and move forward."

Eze also drew inspiration from the experiences of Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford, both of whom endured high-profile penalty misses of their own. He noted that their composure and mentality spoke louder than any words of advice.

"Honestly, before even speaking to them, you can see the way big players carry themselves," Eze said. "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."

Eyes on the World Cup

With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Eze made clear that his ambitions remain undimmed. He described playing in a Champions League final as exactly the stage he has worked toward, and signalled that Arsenal would pursue the trophy again next season.

"Playing in a Champions League final is where I want to be; it's what I want to do," he added. "We'll go for it again next season, and if there is a penalty to take, then I'll be there again."