Eze on England, early rejections and World Cup break
Eberechi Eze ‘not thinking’ about England but keen to ‘perform at the big tournaments’ after making preliminary squad for Qatar… as Crystal Palace star opens up on early rejections and how he spent his World Cup break
- Eberechi Eze made the preliminary squad for England’s World Cup squad
- He is keen to prove himself on the grandest stage at international level
- For now he is focusing on helping Crystal Palace climb up the league table
- Eze was speaking at McDonald’s Fun Football sessions which offer free coaching
As England gear up for a World Cup quarter-final with France this weekend, Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze will be one of many young England players hoping to work their way into the team by the time of the next major tournament.
The exciting Crystal Palace winger has been within a whisker of making the England team – included in Gareth Southgate’s preliminary squad for the World Cup and last year’s European championships – though is still yet to make his senior debut,
Arguably he would have received his first cap by now if it wasn’t for an Achilles injury which kept him out for six months, and as expected from an injury as serious as that, it took some time for him to work his way back to full fitness following his comeback in November last year.
Eberechi Eze is one of many young England players who will hope to work their way into the England squad after the World Cup – after previously making preliminary squads
Eze has full focus on Crystal Palace even if he would like to play an international tournament
Despite someone who has been talked up by those around him as a future England player, Eze has said that it is a subject that he is not focusing on.
He said: ‘If I’m honest, I’m not thinking about it. It’s difficult to focus on anything else other than my own game and me playing football.
‘Nothing really else, I just want to play my football and focus on being the best player that I can be, contribute to my team and that’s where I’m at right now.’
Eze during the World Cup break has used his free time to give back in his role as an ambassador for McDonalds Fun Football sessions – which provide free coaching for youngsters
Eze though has kept his eye on the World Cup – a tournament that has been full of surprises so far – though the Three Lions have made it to the last-eight.
He said: ‘They’re doing what they can, they’re trying their best. Every opponent is difficult as you can see by the draw we had with the United States.
‘Just watching World Cups it’s just more of a huge motivation for kids watching. That experience of representing your country at a major tournament is something everyone wants to go through.
‘It’s something I’m working towards. I want to perform and play at the big tournaments.’
Over the World Cup break, Eze used his free time to give back in his role as ambassador for McDonald’s Fun Football sessions – which provide free coaching for five to 11-year-olds across the UK.
He has also returned to training with Palace, and was involved in their 0-0 draw with Brazilian side Botafogo on Saturday, as well as the 2-2 draw with Trabzonspor on Wednesday.
So far this season has scored Eze has scored two goals in 14 Premier League appearances for Crystal Palace who have had a mixed campaign so far.
Eze has made eight appearances for England’s Under-20’s and nine for their Under-21’s
Eze has scored two goals in 14 league appearances this season for the Eagles who sit 11th
The Eagles sit 11th – out of the top ten on goal difference – though there have been games where they have thrown away points.
Palace have dropped points from winning positions against Liverpool, Man City, Brentford and Chelsea in the opening stages of the season.
Eze said: ‘It’s been a positive start. We’ve played well in the majority of the games though sometimes we haven’t got the results we deserved.
‘We want to improve on our performances and pick up results in those games where we have outplayed the opposition.’
Eze’s rise to where is now has been a roller-coaster and he has a story which shows the value of persistence.
The 24-year-old was released four times – by Arsenal, Fulham, Reading and Millwall – before he finally found the environment he could flourish in at QPR.
Eze grew up dreaming of playing for the Gunners before his release at the age of 13.
Never once did he consider an alternative career, and his hard work and determination reflected his self-belief that he would succeed in football.
Eze worked his way up to the Premier League after being released four times as a youngster
He said: ‘I feel like it was such a long time ago now thinking about it. It was a tough difficult period for me and my family, all the people around me. But that’s part of football and you have to work and apply yourself to get back on your feet.
‘But if it wasn’t for that moment and that situation. I wouldn’t be where I am today.’
And in a message to youngsters who go through the same rejection he did, Eze said: ‘I would say it’s important to believe in yourself to keep on enjoying football. I would say enjoy yourself, to be free and express yourself on the pitch and not worry too much about the pressure’
Eze signed for QPR in 2016 and made his first-team debut the following year. He remained there, save for a brief loan spell at Wycombe, until inking a five-year deal with Palace in 2020.
The Palace star spent many hours growing up on in South London’s enclosed concrete pitches.
The capital city’s cages are where Greenwich-born Eze and many other London-raised players get their first taste of football and begin developing their skills, in his case ones he is now displaying on the Premier League stage.
A post shared by McDonald’s Fun Football (@funfootballuk)
Eze is now giving back with his ambassadorial role with McDonald’s Fun Football sessions and has spoken of the importance of free football sessions and how there is more opportunities for youngster than when he was growing up.
He said: ‘I don’t think I can explain how important free football is for a young player. It gives kids the opportunity to be free and express themselves, it’s amazing to see knowing my experiences.
‘It’s good to see so there’s been so much improvement from when I was getting into football as a kid where it wasn’t as easy to find somewhere.’
Eberechi Eze was speaking at the first ever winter wave of McDonald’s Fun Football sessions, with over 10,000 hours of free football coaching for 5–11-year-olds across the UK in the next month. Find a Fun Football session local to you by visiting www.mcdonalds.co.uk/football
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