Ahead of England's Round of 16 game against Germany, we've ranked the top 10 spot kick takers in the Three Lions' squad.
1. Harry Kane
“Do that thing where you smash it in the top corner again, Harry.”
Gareth Southgate probably doesn’t need to impart those words of wisdom on his captain – and England’s most prolific penalty taker – but we’ll all be thinking it.
2. Marcus Rashford
Rashford has scored 12 out of 14 in-game penalties for Manchester United and England – including one in the warm-up friendly against Romania – and fired home confidently in the shootout win over Colombia at the 2018 World Cup.
The 23-year-old has fantastic technique from the spot and would be a fine first choice if England didn’t have Kane.
3. Mason Mount
Mount has only taken one penalty in his career but that was as recently as February, when he scored against Southampton.
Such is his trustworthiness, combined with his fine technique, that it’s hard to imagine him buckling under pressure.
4. Kieran Trippier
Trippier’s free kick against Croatia was iconic but, ultimately, his most telling contribution at the 2018 World Cup was to keep England in the shootout against Colombia after Jordan Henderson had missed.
The full-back’s dead-ball prowess is well documented at this point and, as one of the most experienced heads in the squad, there’s no question he’ll put himself forward.
5. Jack Grealish
It’s obviously a concern that first Ollie Watkins and then Anwar El Ghazi were preferred to Grealish from the spot for Villa last season.
Perhaps he’s just not a natural – but that would be a surprise considering his absurd natural ability at everything else he does with a ball at his feet.
6. Jadon Sancho
Sancho was a perfect three out of three from penalties for Dortmund last season, scored against Switzerland in the Nations League shootout and bagged seven from the spot for club and country at youth level.
He’s found playing time hard to come by at Euro 2020, but the 21-year-old isn’t short of confidence and feels like a safe option if he manages to get on the pitch.
7. Declan Rice
Rice was entrusted with penalty duties twice in the absence of Mark Noble at West Ham last season, scoring once and missing once.
David Moyes must have seen something in his ability from the spot, and this list is short of players who actually take penalties regularly, so he’s in the top 10.
8. Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Calvert-Lewin stepped up to take England’s second penalty in the warm-up friendly against Romania, before Jordan Henderson wrestled the ball from his grasp and promptly missed.
Given that the Everton striker has scored three out of three from the spot for England at senior and under-21 level, it’s safe to say there are few players he’d let take one off him when things matter.
9. Reece James
James is so good at everything else that it would be a shock if he wasn’t competent from 12 yards.
He has taken one professional penalty – scoring for Wigan against Norwich in 2019 – and just feels like someone who won’t mess it up.
10. Jordan Pickford
Yes, he’s a goalkeeper, but Pickford is still one of England’s most comfortable players with the ball at his feet.
Perhaps that’s an indictment on the rest of the squad, but the goalkeeper did slam one home in the Nations League shootout against Switzerland in 2019 and is as self-assured as they come.
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